Syrian Rebels Attack on Sixth Anniversary of Uprising

Damascus Under Fire after Surprise Rebel Attack

March 20, 2017
Erin Worley

The Syrian capital was devastated by a surprise rebel attack on Sunday. The coordinated assault
began in the Jobar district, an area in northeastern Damascus split between rebel and government control.

The attack was led by Ahrar al-Sham and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The invasion was carried out via secret tunnels, car bombs, and suicide attacks. 

Government forces responded by launching air strikes against the rebels. They were successful in pushing them back albeit at the expense of even more destruction to this war-torn city.

Though rebel groups are never truly strong because of all of the factions within them, the Syrian civil war will not end until the government is able to find some middle ground with the rebels. The attacks on Bashar al-Assad have been constant since the uprising of the Arab Spring.

I think the most important factor in the overall well-being of Syria is that there is no international intervention aside from humanitarian support for refugees. Any international intervention will undermine the sovereignty of the already delicate nation, while giving fuel to terrorist groups who would love nothing more than to have Assad knocked out of power without having to get their hands dirty.

Syria will undoubtedly struggle in the years to come. Only time will tell whether or not they will come out united and successful, or end up as a failed state.