In a series of military successes, jihadists from the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and anti-regime rebels managed to seize the city of Aleppo on December 1, following an offensive that began on November 27.

Aleppo, a historically and strategically important city in northern Syria, is now the strongest stronghold of HTS, which has achieved its biggest successes since 2016.

?JUST IN: A symbol of the Syrian rule in Aleppo captured: rebels broke into Assad's presidential palace pic.twitter.com/UC4GD5gSYj

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) December 1, 2024

The capture of Aleppo was followed by a raid on President Bashar al-Assad’s palace. HTS fighters released footage of their raid, revealing not only their military success but also personal moments from Assad’s life through photographs found in the Assad family’s palace in the city.

Watch a video of the abandoned Assad family palace in Aleppo.

Although the military significance of capturing the palace is undeniable, the images that caught attention were those depicting Assad in personal moments from his younger years. The photos circulated widely on social media.

See photos of Assad in swimwear beside his family at a young age:

Second picture was found the other day in a private residence of the Assad family in the city of #Aleppo, following the capture by rebel forces.#Syria. pic.twitter.com/4HCwTyqG8f

— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) December 5, 2024

Syria: Jihadists Leak Photos of Assad After Invasion of His Palace in Aleppo

The release of these photos comes at a time when Assad’s regime is under constant pressure from the battlefields.

Rebels’ Advance Toward Damascus

After capturing Aleppo, the rebels continued their advance, capturing the city of Hama today. The capture of Hama now opens the way for their push toward Damascus, Syria’s capital. Analysts believe that the fall of Damascus would be a pivotal moment in the course of the 13-year-long civil war.

The HTS and anti-regime fighters’ advance is not only military but also symbolic, as the areas they are capturing have strategic importance for Assad’s regime.

The capture of Hama, one of Syria’s largest cities, highlights the inability of government forces to maintain control over critical regions.

HTS Strategy and the Future of Assad’s Regime

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, once a branch of Al-Qaeda, seems to have adopted a more organized and strategic approach. Its fighters have been bolstered militarily and operationally, while they also cooperate with other rebel groups to achieve common goals.

The capture of Aleppo and Hama marks the most serious challenge to Assad’s regime since the start of the war. Despite support from Russia and Iran, the regime appears to be struggling to maintain its defensive lines.