In late 2015, Russia joined the Syrian conflict, and began an airstrike campaign against ISIS,
as well as rebel forces in support of the Assad regime.
The civil war between anti-Assad’s forces and the long standing Syrian regime is all
the more complicated by an estimated 1,000 opposition groups, as well as ISIS and al-Qaeda.
So we wanted to know, who exactly is fighting in Syria?
Well, in the very beginning of the Syrian Civil War, protesters against the Assad regime
banded together, establishing the Syrian National Council, based out of neighboring Turkey.
In 2012 they were joined by other rebel groups and became the Syrian National COALITION,
intending to act as the exiled legitimate government of Syria.
As of 2015, the SNC has been recognized as representative of the Syrian people by a majority
of Gulf States, and a number of Western States, including the U.S.
Around the time of the SNC’s creation, former Syrian Army members defected from Assad and
formed the Free Syrian Army to fight on the ground.
Like most of the other rebel groups, the FSA is predominantly made up of Sunni Muslims,
while Assad’s regime is of the Alawite Shia faith.
Some reports say that the FSA has as many as 60,000 members.
However other sources state that the Free Syrian Army has become a label for any number
of competing rebel groups, and that the original organization is gone.
Also in 2011, Assad released a number of Salafist prisoners, which many say was an attempt to
breed extremism among Syrian rebels.
Some of these prisoners formed the Islamic Front, a ground fighting force which has reportedly
grown to include as many as 70,000 members.
However, another group of those released prisoners went on to become the top leadership within
ISIS.
They have been working to secure their own Islamic Caliphate in Syria and Iraq.
Of the estimated 1,000 loosely related rebel groups in Syria, only some are focused on
fighting against Assad.
Others are in the midst of fighting ISIS, as well as a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria called
“al-Nusra”.
Involved in the conflict are also the Kurds, who have long demanded their independence
from Syria and other neighboring countries.
While most of the forces in the war are poorly organized, a number of the larger ones are
funded, trained, and armed by foreign countries.
The Syrian government itself has the support of Iran and Russia.
For a period of time, the United States approved the funding of the Free Syrian Army through
a non-government organization.
They have also begun funding Kurdish fighters.
Meanwhile, the Gulf States have been contributing to the rebels as well, by way of Turkey and
Saudi Arabia.
All of this outside influence has many labeling the conflict a “proxy war”.
Between Assad, the Rebels, the Kurds, and ISIS, there are so many competing factions
that it seems almost impossible to find a working compromise that might end the war.
As the stakes get higher, and more countries find themselves involved, it’ll take an
overwhelming effort to eventually reestablish peace in Syria.
One rebel group in particular has received considerable support from the United States,
which is seeking to topple the Assad regime.
To learn more about them, check out this video from Seeker Daily.
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