Rebel offensive in Syria: What is happening now and why?

Sub : IR

Sec : Places in news

Context:

Syrian rebel forces launched a surprise offensive toward Aleppo, seizing parts of the city, marking a significant escalation in the Syrian civil war, which had been relatively dormant since a 2020 ceasefire.
The offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an extremist group controlling Idlib province since 2020.
HTS is a former al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra (Al Nusra Front) and designated a terrorist group by the US, Russia and Turkey, among other nations.

Syrian Civil War: Background

Began in 2010 during the Arab Spring, with protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule, which began in 2000.
Later revolved into a prolonged civil war with multiple factions involved, including foreign actors like Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the US.
Assad is supported by Russia, Iran, and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. While Assad retains control over much of Syria, HTS dominates Idlib.

2020 Ceasefire in Idlib:

Brokered by Turkey (backing rebels) and Russia (supporting Assad), this agreement largely contained the conflict in Idlib.

Arab Spring:

The Arab Spring refers to a series of pro-democracy uprisings, protests, and movements that swept across the Middle East and North Africa starting in 2010.
These movements aimed to challenge authoritarian regimes, address social and economic grievances, and demand greater political freedoms.
In some nations, such as Tunisia and Egypt, ruling governments were forced out.
In most others, governments and militaries crushed the movements.