Syria’s Rebel Factions

After years of brutal civil war, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed on December 8, 2024. The country has fractured into territories controlled by competing factions that once shared the goal of overthrowing Assad but now face each other as rivals. Each group holds different ideological beliefs, international backers, and territorial priorities, contributing to Syria’s deeply fragmented post-Assad landscape. Below is a complete list of factions in post-Assad Syria.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Syrian National Army (SNA)
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
The Druze Militias
The Islamic State (ISIS)

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the most powerful rebel group in Syria, was the driving force behind the campaign that led to Assad’s downfall. HTS began as Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s official affiliate in Syria, before splitting from the global organization in 2016 under the leadership of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani—now revealed to be Ahmed al-Sharaa. Seeking legitimacy and a broader appeal, HTS rebranded itself as an independent Islamist movement, moving away from its extremist roots.

The group has consolidated control over Idlib Province, the last major rebel stronghold, by eliminating rival factions and establishing the Syrian Salvation Government to administer the region. HTS governs through taxation, border tariffs, and monopolizing utilities, but it has also been accused of profiting from captagon production and trafficking. Despite efforts to present a more moderate image, the United States, Turkey, and other countries designate HTS as a terrorist organization, leaving it isolated from international legitimacy.

HTS’s ability to spearhead the rapid offensive across Syria, capturing Aleppo and Damascus, solidified its dominance. Al-Jolani has promised to liberate Syria from oppression and has sought to present HTS as a pragmatic alternative to extremist groups. However, many Syrians remain deeply suspicious of HTS’s intentions, particularly given its history of harsh rule and jihadist origins.

Syrian National Army (SNA)

The Syrian National Army (SNA), a coalition of Turkish-backed militias, controls large swaths of northern Syria near the Turkish border. Formed in 2016 with direct support from Turkey, the SNA was initially tasked with countering both Kurdish forces and the Islamic State. The group consists of various factions, including former Free Syrian Army elements, Islamist fighters, and local militias with no unifying ideology beyond opposition to Assad and Kurdish militias.

Turkey’s strategic interests drive the SNA’s operations, as Ankara seeks to create a buffer zone along its border to prevent the Kurdish-led YPG, which it considers a terrorist group, from gaining ground. The SNA’s campaigns are heavily dependent on Turkish funding, airstrikes, and artillery, which have allowed it to maintain control over key areas. Recently, SNA forces launched an offensive against Kurdish-controlled regions around Manbij, further deepening tensions in northern Syria.

Despite its military successes, the SNA’s reputation is mixed. Reports of internal disunity, lawlessness, and abuses by its fighters have tarnished its image, raising questions about its ability to establish stable governance. For Turkey, however, the SNA remains a crucial partner in its efforts to reshape the northern Syrian frontier and resettle refugees currently living within Turkish borders.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led alliance, emerged as a dominant force in northeastern Syria following its key role in the U.S.-backed fight against ISIS. Built around the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the SDF expanded to include Arab militias and other local groups, allowing it to establish a diverse coalition with broad territorial control. The group holds significant areas east of the Euphrates River, including Raqqa, the former ISIS stronghold, and oil-rich regions critical to its economic viability.

The SDF’s alliance with the United States has been instrumental to its success, but it has also drawn the ire of Turkey, which views the YPG as an extension of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party). Turkish forces have launched repeated offensives against SDF-held areas, and tensions remain high around cities like Manbij. Despite these challenges, the SDF continues to govern its semi-autonomous region and remains vigilant against ISIS sleeper cells, which have taken advantage of Syria’s instability to stage attacks.

The fall of Assad has placed the SDF in a difficult position. While it enjoys U.S. support, the group must balance Kurdish autonomy aspirations with the demands of the region’s Arab populations and mounting pressure from Turkey. Its role as a stabilizing force in northeastern Syria will depend on its ability to navigate these competing interests. On December 10, 2024, the SDF reached a ceasefire agreement with Turkey-backed rebel factions, with the support of the U.S.

The SDF reportedly also views Israel as a model for governance, and their ties with Israel have been officially acknowledged.

The Druze Militias

The Druze community, concentrated in Sweida Province in southwestern Syria, played a relatively neutral role for much of the civil war. Historically, the Druze avoided confrontation with Assad’s forces while rejecting military conscription, choosing instead to focus on protecting their communities. However, economic hardships and frustration with the Assad regime’s mismanagement pushed many Druze into open rebellion.

In the wake of Assad’s collapse, Druze fighters joined the newly formed Southern Operations Room, a coalition of rebel groups operating in Syria’s south. The Druze militias launched offensives alongside other factions, targeting areas previously held by government forces. Their participation reflects a growing alignment among Syria’s sectarian and ethnic minorities, who are now asserting themselves in the post-Assad order.

Though small in number compared to other factions, the Druze militias’ involvement has added a new dimension to Syria’s fractured power dynamics. Their historical ties to Druze populations in Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan further underscore the importance of their role in shaping the country’s southern regions.

The Islamic State (ISIS)

Although severely weakened, the Islamic State (ISIS) remains a persistent threat in Syria. At its peak, ISIS controlled vast territories across Syria and Iraq, imposing its brutal rule before being driven underground by a U.S.-led coalition. Today, ISIS operates primarily through sleeper cells in northeastern Syria, where it continues to stage attacks and maintain a shadow presence.

The group has exploited the instability caused by Assad’s fall to reassert itself, targeting prisons holding its fighters and attacking weakened factions. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) remain at the forefront of efforts to contain ISIS, supported by U.S. airstrikes and military advisors. However, the ongoing conflict and fractured governance have provided ISIS with opportunities to regroup, posing a long-term security challenge for Syria and the region.

On December 24, 2024, al-Jolani, Syria’s de facto leader following the rebel seizure of Damascus and the ousting of Assad on December 8, has announced an agreement to dissolve all former rebel factions and consolidate them under the defense ministry. This move, part of a restructuring plan that integrates former rebels and defected Assad officers, aims to prevent clashes among diverse groups. Al-Jolani has assured Western officials that his Islamist-led administration will avoid retaliation and protect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, such as Kurds, Shi’ites, Christians, and Druze, addressing fears of persecution under Sunni Islamist rule.

Sources: “Syria: who are the main rebel groups?” Reuters, (December 8, 2024).
David Gritten, “What just happened in Syria and who's in charge?” BBC, (December 9, 2024).
Ephrat Livni, “How to Understand the Armed Factions Operating in Syria,” New York Times, (December 10, 2024).
Lior Ben Ari, “Supported by the U.S., in conflict with Erdogan – and in contact with Israel | The Kurdish Group in Syria,” Ynet, (December 11, 2024). [Hebrew]
“Syrian ex-rebel factions agree to merge under defence ministry,” Reuters, (December 24, 2024).