Rebel forces are the military units that oppose government forces in a country or region. These groups can be hailed as valiant liberators or condemned as dangerous insurgents, but they are key to understanding the turbulent and enduring political struggles of our time. From the jungles of Latin America to the deserts of Africa, rebel movements have challenged empires and toppled regimes – all while inspiring both hope and fear.
As part of their offensive against the Syrian government, Islamist militants in northwestern Syria have seized several towns and villages from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. According to a UK-based monitoring group, over 80 combatants and civilians have been killed since last week’s launch of the offensive.
The Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is leading the attack, with allied rebel factions. Some of these rebels have been in control of the town of Khan al-Assal for the past two days, a source familiar with the situation tells CNN. HTS also controls several other towns and villages in northern Syria.
Like all rebels, these fighters are a patchwork of different factions with competing interests and ideologies. But they are united by a shared goal: to overthrow the governing regime of their homeland and establish a new government. They are often financed, trained and armed by foreign backers, including the US, France, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. These outsiders can provide crucial strategic direction, intelligence and weapons. But they must help the rebels to purge radical elements and ensure that they can govern after they have taken power.
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