Rebel Groups Overtake Syria; Israel Destroys Syrian Military Equipment

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — DEC 9 2024

Today’s email brings you news from Syria and Israel.

1 - SYRIA

1 thing to know

In less than 2 weeks, a coalition of Syrian rebel groups have captured the Syrian capital, Damascus, and overthrown the Assad regime.

The context 

After 12 years of civil war, the Syrian government and President Bashar al-Assad have been overthrown in less than two weeks. The opposition forces are made up of two groups, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is a US-designated terrorist group, and the Syrian National Army, which is backed by Turkey.

The cities of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs all fell quickly during the rapid offensive that started 10 days ago, followed by Damascus, the Syrian capital. The president gave orders for a peaceful transfer of power before fleeing to Russia, where he has been given asylum.

With Damascus now under the control of the insurgents, it is yet unknown how Syria will be governed going forward. The leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, was originally affiliated with al-Qaeda, where he fought against the US in Iraq in 2003. He has since renounced ties to the group in 2016 and sought to distance himself from, calling for religious tolerance and pluralism, but remains on the US terror list with a $10 million bounty on his head.

More from the region

Iran has invested heavily in supporting the Assad regime, using Syria as a crucial part of its “Axis of Resistance”, enabling it to project power in the region and maintain a supply route to Lebanon.

The loss of Syria will disrupt these networks, weakening Iran's strategic position. Following the fall of Assad, the Iranian foreign ministry stated that "We will spare no effort to help establish security and stability in Syria," and that ties between the two countries are expected to continue.

Is this newsletter useful? If you’ve enjoyed having useful, curated news in The War Newsletter, please take a moment to forward this to a friend.

TECH SPOTLIGHT: MQ-9 REAPER

The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) primarily used by the U.S. military for surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeted strikes. Designed as a successor to the MQ-1 Predator, the Reaper is equipped with advanced sensors and precision-guided munitions, enabling it to conduct long-duration, high-altitude missions. The drone can carry a variety of payloads, including Hellfire missiles and GBU precision bombs.

With a wingspan of 66 feet and a maximum operating altitude of 50,000 feet, the MQ-9 can remain airborne for up to 27 hours, covering large areas with its array of surveillance equipment, such as infrared cameras and synthetic aperture radar.

What it’s used for

The MQ-9 was first used operationally in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2007, and it has seen extensive use in the Middle East since, becoming an increasingly important weapon in operations.

Notable uses include the strike that killed Qasem Soleimani in 2020, as well as a killing ISIL member Mohammed Emwazi in 2015. The MQ-9 is also employed by other countries, including Belgium, Canada, France, and Germany, among many others.

2 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

Israel has seized the demilitarized buffer zone between it and Syria in the Golan Heights region after the collapse of the Assad regime.

The context 

The 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria had maintained a delicate peace and a UN-managed buffer zone for nearly five decades. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the agreement void following the lightning-fast offensive, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, that toppled Bashar al-Assad's government. Israeli forces moved swiftly to take strategic positions in the buffer zone that had been maintained by UN peacekeepers since the original agreement.

Netanyahu emphasized that this move is a temporary defensive measure to protect Israel's northern border. He also indicated Israel's willingness to establish peaceful relations with the new forces in Syria, but also made it clear that Israel will "do whatever it takes" to defend its borders. 

More from the region

In response to the Assad regime's collapse, Israeli forces conducted more than 100 airstrikes across Syria. These operations are focused on destroying Syrian military equipment before the Syrian rebels groups - such as HTS and the Syrian National Army, a group backed by Turkey - can get to it. Targets include weapons factories, chemical weapons sites, missile storage facilities, and air defense systems. 

The US is also conducting its own similar strikes against Islamic State targets in central Syria.

P.S. If you have a source, tip, or piece of information we missed, please reply to this email and tell us about it. Thank you!