TheSyrian opposition was an umbrella term for the Syrian revolutionary organizations that opposedBashar al-Assad'sBa'athist regime during theSyrian Revolution andSyrian civil war. The opposition factions inSyria became active asgrassroots movements during the mass demonstrations against theBa'athist regime. TheFree Syrian Army (FSA) was the most prominent armed revolutionary group in the initial stages of the war; but it declined and became decentralized by 2015. By 2021,Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had become the strongest armed faction within the Syrian opposition.

Syrian opposition
المعارضة السورية al-Muʿaraḍah as-Sūrīyyah
TheSyrian revolution flag, used by opponents toBa'athist rule
Also known as	Syrian revolutionaries Syrian rebels
Dates of operation	2011–2024
Country	Syria
Motives	Political reforms inSyria Removal ofBashar al-Assad
Headquarters	List Istanbul (Syrian National Council andSyrian National Coalition, from 2012) Azaz (Syrian Interim Government andSyrian National Army, from 2016) Idlib (Syrian Salvation Government andHay'at Tahrir al-Sham, from 2017) Al-Tanf (Syrian Free Army, from 2016) Daraa (Southern Operations Room) Amman (Southern Front, from 2014–2018) Hawar Kilis (Hawar Kilis Operations Room) Babisqa (Ahrar al-Sham) As-Suwayda (Al-Jabal Brigade andSheikh al-Karama Forces) Unclear (Authenticity and Development Front) Unclear (Free Syrian Army)
Ideology	Anti-Assadism Factions: Regionalism Democracy Syrian nationalism Religious nationalism Secular nationalism Sunni Islamism Islamic fundamentalism Wahhabism Salafism Secularism
Political position	Big tent
Allies	Turkey Qatar Saudi Arabia European Union United States Ukraine[1] Arab League (recognized theSNC from 2012 to 2023) Al-Qaeda (allied withAl-Nusra Front until 2016) Rojava (fought alongside rebel factions) Muslim Brotherhood in Syria
Opponents	Ba'athist Syria Syrian Arab Armed Forces Russia Iran Hezbollah Islamic State Al-Qaeda (clashed withFree Syrian Army and other non-jihadist rebels) Rojava (clashed with Turkish-backed and Islamist rebel factions)
Battles and wars	Syrian civil war

In July 2011, as the situationturned into a civil war, defectors from theSyrian Armed Forces formed theFree Syrian Army. In August 2011,dissident groups operating from abroad formed a coalition called theSyrian National Council. A broader organization, theSyrian National Coalition (SNC), was formed in November 2012. Although the groups based abroad established contact with those inSyria, the Syrian opposition suffered during the whole conflict from infighting and a lack of unified leadership, as well as lack of foreign aid as the war became deadlocked.

In 2013, the Syrian National Coalition formed theSyrian Interim Government (SIG), which operated first as agovernment-in-exile and, from 2015, in certain zones of Syria. From 2016, the SIG was present in theTurkish-occupied zones, while the SNC operated fromIstanbul. In 2017, theIslamist groupHay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), unaffiliated to the SNC, formed theSyrian Salvation Government (SSG) in the areas it controlled. Both opposition governments operated asquasi-states. Rebel armed forces during the civil war have included the Turkish-backedSyrian National Army, affiliated to the SIG, theSyrian Liberation Front, theNational Front for Liberation, theSouthern Front, theSouthern Operations Room, and theAmerican-backedSyrian Free Army (previously known as the Revolutionary Commando Army). Other groups that challenged Bashar al-Assad's rule during the civil war were theKurdish-dominatedAutonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava) and thejihadist organization known as theIslamic State. The latter group is generally distinguished from the opposition, with whom it wasin conflict.

On 27 November 2024Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and a coalition of Syrian armed opposition groups launched2024 Syrian opposition offensives which led to thefall of the Assad regime after 11 days of fighting. The HTS-ledSyrian Salvation Government became the foundation for theSyrian transitional government.^[2][3][4] During theSyrian Revolution Victory Conference, held inDamascus on 29 January 2025, the dissolution of several armed revolutionary factions and their merger into the newly overhauledSyrian military forces was officially announced. At the event, the Syrian General Command appointed former HTS leaderAhmed al-Sharaa aspresident of Syria for the transitional phase.

Syria has been an independent republic since 1946 after the expulsion of theFrench forces. For decades, the country was partially stable with a series of coups until theBa'ath Party seized power in Syria in 1963 after acoup d'état. In 1970,Hafez al-Assadseized power, beginning the rule of theAssad family. Syria was underemergency law from the time of the 1963 Syrian coup d'état until 21 April 2011, when it was rescinded byBashar al-Assad, Hafez's eldest surviving son and his successor aspresident of Syria.^[5]

The rule of Assad dynasty was marked by heavy repression of secular opposition factions such as theArab nationalistNasserists andliberal democrats. The largest organised resistance to the Ba'athist rule has been theSyrian Muslim Brotherhood, which successfully capitalised on the widespread Sunni resentment against theAlawite hegemony. Anislamist uprising developed in Syria from 1976. In response, the Assad regime introduced Law No. 49 in 1980 which banned the movement and instituted death penalty of anyone accused of membership in the Brotherhood. The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood rose as the most powerful opposition force in Syria until it wasbrutally crushed in 1982.^[6][7]

Prior to the civil war that started in 2011, "opposition" (Arabic:المعارضة,romanized: al-muʕāraḍat) referred to traditional political actors such as political exiles, the public platforms that had emerged during theDamascus Spring and those who later formed theDamascus Declaration alliance; that is, groups and individuals with a history of dissidence against the Syrian state.^[8]

As therevolutionary wave commonly referred to as theArab Spring began to take shape in early 2011, Syrian protesters began consolidating opposition councils. Spontaneous protests became more planned and organized.^[9] The uprising, from March 2011 until the start of August 2011, was characterized by a consensus for nonviolent struggle among the participants.^[10]The opposition councils inside the country became known as theLocal Coordination Committees of Syria.^[11][12]

TheIstanbul Meeting for Syria, the first convention of the Syrian opposition, took place on 26 April 2011, during the early phase of the civil uprising. There followed theAntalya Conference for Change in Syria orAntalya Opposition Conference, a three-dayconference of representatives of the Syrian opposition held from 31 May until 3 June 2011 inAntalya, Turkey. Organized byAmmar al-Qurabi'sNational Organization for Human Rights in Syria and financed by the wealthy Damascene Sanqar family, it led to a final statement refusing compromise or reform solutions, and to the election of a 31-member leadership.

After the Antalya conference, a follow-up meeting took place two days later inBrussels, then another gathering in Paris that was addressed byBernard-Henri Lévy, a French author who was involved at the same time in support for theLibyan uprising.^[13] It took a number of further meetings inIstanbul andDoha before yet another meeting on 23 August 2011 inIstanbul set up a permanent transitional council in form of theSyrian National Council,^[14][15] which received significant international support and recognition as a partner for dialogue. The Syrian National Council was recognized or supported in some capacity by at least 17member states of the United Nations, with three of those (France, the United Kingdom, and the United States) being permanent members of theSecurity Council.^{[16][17][18][19][20][21]}

TheNational Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (commonly known as the Syrian National Coalition), a broader umbrella organization formed in November 2012, gained recognition as the "legitimate representative of the Syrian people" by theCooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG) and as a "representative of aspirations of Syrian people" by theArab League. TheFriends of Syria Group transferred its recognition from the Syrian National Council to the Syrian National Coalition.^[22] The Syrian National Coalition subsequently took the seat of Syria in the Arab League, with the representative ofBashar Al-Assad's government suspended that year.^[23] The Syrian National Council, initially a part of the Syrian National Coalition, withdrew on 20 January 2014 in protest at the decision of the coalition to attend theGeneva talks.^[24] Despite tensions, the Syrian National Council retained a degree of ties with the Syrian National Coalition.

A July 2015 ORB International poll of 1,365 adults across all of Syria's 14governorates found that about 26 percent of the population supported the Syrian opposition (41 percent in the areas it controlled), compared to 47 percent who supported the Ba'athist government (73 percent in the areas it controlled), 35 percent who supported theAl-Nusra Front (58 percent in the areas it controlled), and 22 percent who supported theIslamic State (74 percent in the areas it controlled).^[25] A March 2018 ORB International Poll with a similar method and sample size found that support had changed to 40% Syrian government, 40% Syrian opposition (in general), 15%Syrian Democratic Forces, 10% al-Nusra Front, and 4% Islamic State (crossover may exist between supporters of factions).^[26]

While rebel forces initially made significant advances against government forces, theIranian andRussian interventions in support of the Assad regime shifted the balance of the conflict. Syrian rebel forces were also under attack by theIslamic State as the conflict became multi-sided. Ba'athist forces gradually recaptured most rebel strongholds except theIdlib Governorate andTurkish-occupied zones. A major battle between rebel groups and government forces took place inAleppo, which wasrecaptured by the regime in late 2016. In the meantime, Syrian opposition groups, including the Syrian National Coalition, tried to negotiate with the regime as part ofa peace process that failed to produce results. The Syrian National Coalition remained fraught with internal conflict and leadership problems.Qatar andSaudi Arabia competed for influence over it.^[27] Eventually, the Istanbul-based SNC became essentially a platform forTurkish influence and lost much of its international clout.^[28][29]

In late 2016, theSyrian Interim Government relocated its headquarters to the city ofAzaz in North Syria and began to execute some authority in the area.^[30][31] From 2017, the opposition government in theIdlib Governorate was challenged by the rivalSyrian Salvation Government, backed by the Islamist factionHayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Moreover, in the areas it nominally controlled, the SIG remained wholly dependent on Turkish support.^[32] As of 2022, the Syrian opposition had to deal with Turkey's willingness tonormalize relations with the Assad regime. This, together with Turkey's local interference and its handling of theSyrian refugees situation, led in July 2024 toanti-Turkish riots in opposition-held areas.

In late 2024, opposition forces leda series of lightning offensives, routing Ba'athist forces andtaking Damascus on December 8. Theregime collapsed asBashar al-Assad fled to Moscow.^[2] On December 10,Mohammed al-Bashir, previously head of the Syrian Salvation Government, became prime minister of theSyrian transitional government that replaced both the SSG and thelast Ba'athist government in Damascus.^[33][34] With one exception, all ministers in the transitional government previously held similar portfolios in the SSG.^[35]Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of HTS, became regarded as Syria's de facto leader.^[36] In January 2025, he was formally named Syria's president by the Syrian General Command.^[37]

The Syrian opposition never had a definitive political structure. In December 2015, members of the Syrian opposition convened inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia: 34 groups attended the convention, which aimed to produce a unified delegation for negotiations with theSyrian government.^[38] Notable groups present included:

• theNational Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, which supported the implementation of the2012 Geneva Communique, which calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body in Syria
• theNational Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, which called for negotiations on a peaceful transition
• armed groups:
  • Jaysh al-Islam
  • Ahrar al-Sham
  • theSouthern Front

The December 2015 convention notably did not include:^[38]

• theKurdish PYD party and its affiliates
• Salafist armed groups such asAl-Nusra Front.

TheNational Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, commonly known as the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), is a coalition of opposition groups and individuals, mostly exilic, who support the Syrian revolutionary side and oppose the Assad government ruling Syria. It formed on 11 November 2012 at a conference of opposition groups and individuals held inDoha,Qatar. It has relations with other opposition organizations such as the Syrian National Council, the previous iteration of an exilic political body attempting to represent the grassroots movement; the union of the two was planned, but has failed to realize. Moderate Islamic preacherMoaz al-Khatib, who had protested on the Syrian street in the early nonviolent phase of the uprising, served a term as the president of the coalition, but soon resigned his post, frustrated with the gap between the body and the grassroots of the uprising inside Syria.^[39]Riad Seif andSuheir Atassi, both of whom had also protested on the street in Syria early in the uprising, were elected as vice presidents. Mustafa Sabbagh is the coalition's secretary-general.^[40]

Notable members of the Coalition include:

• theAssyrian Democratic Organization: a party representing theAssyrian minority and long repressed by the Assad government, it has participated in opposition structures since the beginning of the conflict. Abdul-Ahad Astepho is a member of the SNC.^[41][42]
• TheSyrian Turkmen Assembly.

TheSyrian National Council (SNC),^[43][44] sometimes known as the Syrian National Transitional Council or the National Council of Syria,^[45] is a Syrian opposition coalition based inIstanbul (Turkey) that was formed in August 2011 during theSyrian civil uprising against the government ofBashar al-Assad.^[46][47]

Initially, the council denied seeking to play the role of agovernment in exile,^[48] but this changed a few months later when violence in Syria intensified.^[49][50][51] The Syrian National Council seeks the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule and the establishment of a modern, civil,democratic state. The SNC National Charter listshuman rights,judicial independence,press freedom,democracy andpolitical pluralism as its guiding principles.^[52]

In November 2012, the Council agreed to unite with several other opposition groups to form theNational Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, with the SNC having 22 out of 60 seats.^[53][54][55] The Council withdrew from the Coalition on 20 January 2014 in protest at the decision of the Coalition to attendtalks in Geneva.^[56]

Notable members of the Council include:

• theSyrian Democratic People's Party, a socialist party which played a "key role" in forming the SNC.^[57] The Party's leaderGeorge Sabra (a secularist born into a Christian family) is the official spokesman of the SNC, and also ran for chairman.^[58]
• theSupreme Council of the Syrian Revolution, a Syrian opposition group supporting the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government. It grants local opposition groups representation in its national organization.
• theSyrian Democratic Turkmen Movement: An opposition party, constituted in Istanbul on 21 March 2012, ofSyrian Turkmens. Ziyad Hasan leads the Syrian Democratic Turkmen Movement.

TheNational Coordination Committee for Democratic Change (NCC), or the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change (NCB),^[59] is a Syrian bloc chaired by Hassan Abdel Azim and consisting of 13left-wing political parties and "independent political and youth activists."^[60]Reuters has defined the committee as theinternal opposition's main umbrella group.^[61] The NCC initially had severalKurdish political parties as members, but all except for theDemocratic Union Party left in October 2011 to join theKurdish National Council.^[62] The NCC proved controversial among other opposition groups, with activists rejecting its calls for dialogue withBashar al-Assad and accusing it of being a "front organization" for the Ba'athist regime.^[63]

The NCC generally has poor relationships with other Syrian political opposition groups. TheSyrian Revolution General Commission, theLocal Coordination Committees of Syria, and theSupreme Council of the Syrian Revolution oppose the NCC calls to dialogue with the Syrian government.^[64] In September 2012 theSyrian National Council (SNC) reaffirmed that despite broadening its membership, it would not join with "currents close to [the] NCC".^[65] Despite the NCC recognizing theFree Syrian Army (FSA) on 23 September 2012,^[66] the FSA has dismissed the NCC as an extension of the government, stating that "this opposition is just the other face of the same coin".^[61]

Notable former members of the Committee have included:

• theSyriac Union Party, a party representing the interests ofSyriac Christians and affiliated with theSyriac Union Party in Lebanon (itself part of the anti-AssadMarch 14 Alliance). It has taken part in numerous opposition demonstrations, including storming the Syrian embassy inStockholm in August 2012.^[67] It later left the NCC and joined theSyrian Democratic Council in late 2015.^{[68][failed verification]}
• theDemocratic Union Party, the main Kurdish party in Syria and the dominant party in thede factoDemocratic Federation of Northern Syria. It later left the NCC and joined the Syrian Democratic Council in late 2015.^{[68][failed verification]}

TheSyrian Democratic Council was established on 10 December 2015 inal-Malikiyah. It was co-founded by prominent human rights activistHaytham Manna and was intended as the political wing of theSyrian Democratic Forces. The council includes more than a dozen blocs and coalitions that supportfederalism in Syria, including theMovement for a Democratic Society, theKurdish National Alliance in Syria, theLaw–Citizenship–Rights Movement, and since September 2016 theSyria's Tomorrow Movement. The last group is led by former National Coalition president and Syrian National CouncilAhmad Jarba. In August 2016 the SDC opened a public office inal-Hasakah.^[69]

TheSyrian Democratic Council is considered an "alternative opposition" bloc.^[70] Its leaders included former NCC members such asRiad Darar, a "key figure" in the Syrian opposition, andHaytham Manna, who resigned from the SDC in March 2016 in protest of its announcement of theNorthern Syria Federation.^[71] The SDC was rejected by some other opposition groups due to its system of federalism.^[72]

The Syrian Democratic Council was invited to participate in the internationalGeneva III peace talks on Syria in March 2016. However, it rejected the invitations because no representatives of theMovement for a Democratic Society, led by theDemocratic Union Party, were invited.^{[citation needed]}

• Muslim Brotherhood: Islamist party founded in 1930. The brotherhood was behind theIslamic uprising in Syria between 1976 until 1982. The party is banned in Syria and membership became acapital offence in 1980. The Muslim Brotherhood has issued statements of support for the Syrian uprising.^[73][74] Other sources have described the group as having "risen from the ashes,"^[75] "resurrected itself"^[76] to be a dominant force in the uprising.^[77] The Muslim Brotherhood has constantly lost influence with militants on the ground, who have defected from the Brotherhood affiliatedShields of the Revolution Council to theIslamic Front.^[78]
• Coalition of Secular and Democratic Syrians: a grouping of Syriansecular and democratic opposition members, which came about through the union of a dozen Muslim and Christian, Arab andKurd parties, who called the minorities of Syria to support the fight against the government ofBashar al-Assad.^[79][80] This group, chaired byRanda Kassis,^[81][82] has also called for military intervention in Syria, under the form of ano-fly zone similar to that ofKosovo, with a safe zone and cities.^[83][84] Kassis, who chaired talks as part of theAstana Platform,^[85] has expressed support for theRussian intervention in Syria.^[86] Kassis' initiatives proved controversial among other members of the opposition, who considered them to be part of an "acceptable" opposition backed by Russia.^[86][87]
• Syrian Turkmen Assembly: An assembly ofSyrian Turkmens, formed in 2012, which constitutes a coalition of Turkmen parties and groups in Syria. It is against the partition of Syria after the collapse of Baath government. The common decision of Syrian Turkmen Assembly is:"Regardless of any ethnic or religious identity, a future in which everybody can be able to live commonly under the identity of Syrian is targeted in the future of Syria."^[88] In 2019,Abdurrahman Mustafa, president of the Syrian Turkmen Assembly, became the president of the Turkish-supportedSyrian Interim Government. He also chaired theSyrian National Coalition between 2018 and 2019.
  • Syrian Turkmen National Bloc: An opposition party of Syrian Turkmens, which was founded in February 2012. The chairman of the political party is Yusuf Molla.
• Local Coordination Committees of Syria: Network of local protest groups that organise and report on protests as part of the Syrian civil war, founded in 2011.^[89][90] As of August 2011^[update], the network supportedcivil disobedience and opposed local armed resistance and international military intervention as methods of opposing the Syrian government.^[91] Key people are activistsRazan Zaitouneh andSuhair al-Atassi.^[92]
• Syrian National Democratic Council: formed in Paris on 13 November 2011 during the Syrian civil war byRifaat al-Assad, uncle of Bashar al-Assad. Rifaat al-Assad has expressed the wish to replace Bashar al-Assad with the authoritarian state apparatus intact, and to guarantee the safety of government members, while also making vague allusions to a "transition."^[93] Rifaat has his own political organisation, the United National Democratic Rally.^[94]
• Syrian Revolution General Commission: Syrian coalition of 40 Syrian opposition groups to unite their efforts during the Syrian civil war that was announced on 19 August 2011 inIstanbul.^[95]

• TheDemocratic National Assembly: Political gathering of political parties and organizations, citizens independent of parties, and public figures.^[96] It was established in 1979 and consists of five parties: theDemocratic Arab Socialists Union, theSyrian Democratic People's Party, theArab Revolutionary Workers' Party, theArab Socialists Movement, and theArab Socialist Democratic Ba'ath Party. In 2006, theCommunist Labour Party joined this coalition, and it was one of the participants in the "Damascus Spring."
• TheNational Salvation Front in Syria: It was founded in 2005 byAbdul Halim Khaddam, who is the former vice-president, along with a number of opposition figures abroad.^[97] He was previously one of the symbols of the regime during the days of former PresidentHafez al-Assad.^[98]
• Ehrar - The Syrian Liberal Party: This party was founded in February 2000.^[99] It is a social liberal political party. It is headed by Mrs.Yasmine Merhi and her deputy, Mr.Khaled al-Bitar. It is the first opposition political party headed by a Syrian woman.^[100]

Several political parties and organizations existed inside Syria, and they reached the dome of thePeople's Assembly. Among these parties are included:

• ThePopular Front for Change and Liberation: The front was founded in August 2011 inDamascus.^[101] It established in its national charter the launch of public freedoms, the start of a national dialogue, and work on drafting a new constitution. The Front participated in the2012 elections and achieving 5 seats in thePeople's Assembly.^[102][103] Among the different parties united in the Front are:
  • Syrian Social Nationalist Party – Intifada Wing: A splinter group, founded in 1957, of theSyrian Social Nationalist Party.^[104] This ideology was more attractive to minorities in that region, at the expense ofArab nationalism and Islamic ideologies.^[105] The party took part to the parliamentary opposition but supported in 2014 Assad's reelection.^[106]
  • Popular Will Party: Founded on August 21, 2012 byQadri Jamil. It is acommunist-associated Syrian political party that affirms the interests of the working class and other hard-working Syrians. They also fight for the recognition of them as a representative of these interests.^[107]

The Popular Front for Change and Liberation decided to boycott the2016 elections because the regime had not upheld its promise to amend to the constitution.^[108]

At a conference held in Istanbul on 19 March 2013 members of the National Coalition electedGhassan Hitto as prime minister of aninterim government for Syria, the Syrian Interim Government (SIG). Hitto has announced that atechnical government will be formed which will be led by between 10 and 12 ministers, with theFree Syrian Army choosing the Minister of Defense.^[109] The SIG is based in Turkey. It has been the primary civilian authority throughout most of opposition-held Syria. Its system of administrative local councils operate services such as schools and hospitals in these areas, as well as the Free Aleppo University.^[110][111] By late 2017, it presided over 12 provincial councils and over 400 elected local councils. It also operates a major border crossing between Syria and Turkey, which generates an estimated $1 million revenue each month.^[110] It is internationally recognized by the European Union and the United States, among others. It maintains diplomatic ties with some non-FSA rebel groups, such asAhrar al-Sham, but has been in conflict with the more extremeTahrir al-Sham, which is one of the largest armed groups in Idlib Governorate.^[110]

TheSyrian Salvation Government was an alternative government of the Syrian opposition seated withinIdlib Governorate, which was formed by the General Syrian Conference in September 2017.^[112] The domestic group has appointed Mohammed al-Sheikh as head of the Government with 11 more ministers for Interior, Justice, Endowment, Higher Education, Education, Health, Agriculture, Economy, Social Affairs and Displaced, Housing and Reconstruction and Local Administration and Services. Al-Sheikh, in a press conference held at theBab al-Hawa Border Crossing has also announced the formation of four commissions: Inspection Authority, Prisoners and missing Affairs, Planning and Statistics Authority, and the Union of Trade Unions.^[113] The founder of theFree Syrian Army, Col.Riad al-Asaad, was appointed as deputy prime minister for military affairs.^{[citation needed]} The SSG is associated withHay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and not recognised by the rest of the opposition, which is in conflict with HTS.^[113]

There was a sharp ideological divide between the two competing opposition civil authorities: The SIG espousessecular, moderate values and regularly participated in international peace talks; the SSG enforced a strict interpretation ofIslamic law and stringently rejected talks with the Syrian regime.^[110]

After thefall of the Assad regime, the SSG was replaced by theSyrian transitional government, installed in Damascus.

TheAutonomous Administration of North and East Syria is an area that extends in northeastern Syria and includes parts of the governorates Al-Hasakah, Al-Raqqa, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor.^[114] The capital of the area isAin Issa, a town belonging to the Al-Raqqa governorate.^[115] The Administration is headed bySiham Qaryo andFarid Atti with a joint head.^[116] In January 2014, a number of parties, social actors, and civil institutions announced the formation of the Autonomous Administration to fill the power vacuum that existed at that time in the Syrian Kurdish regions.^[117] Although its authority has not been recognized or authorized by any formal agreement involving the sovereign Syrian state or any international power, its presence in the region and its ability to wield power was unchallenged.^[114]

Following the fall of the Assad regime, various Syrian opposition groups have a presence in all Syrian governorates:

Governorates under partial control of opposition groups aligned with the Syrian transitional government:

• Latakia Governorate
• Idlib Governorate
• Hama Governorate
• Aleppo Governorate
• Hasakah Governorate
• Raqqa Governorate
• Damascus Governorate

Governorates under partial control of opposition groups aligned with the Syrian Democratic Council:

• Hasakah Governorate
• Raqqa Governorate
• Aleppo Governorate
• Deir ez-Zor Governorate

In April 2015, after theSecond Battle of Idlib, the interim seat of the Syrian Interim Government was proposed to be Idlib, in the Idlib Governorate. However, this move was rejected by theal-Nusra Front andAhrar al-Sham-ledArmy of Conquest, which between them controlled Idlib.^[118] According to the Syrian National Coalition, in 2017 there were 404 opposition-aligned local councils operating in villages, towns, and cities controlled by rebel forces.^[119] In 2016, the Syrian Interim Government became established within theTurkish-controlled areas.

The Salvation Government extends authority in Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and the coastal regions of Northwestern Syria.

The Al-Tanf Garrison controls the city of Palmyra and surrounding areas near the Al-Tanf military base.^{[citation needed]}

The Southern Front controls areas on the border with Jordan and the Golan Heights, including all of theDaraa Governorate and part of theQuneitra Governorate.^[120][121]

During the civil war, the opposition worked to establish diplomatic relations with various countries and international organizations.Turkey recognized the Syrian opposition as the genuine Syrian Arab Republic and hosted several of its institutions on its territory. TheQatari government has also been a key ally in supporting the Syrian opposition's efforts to establish a new government.^[122] The Syrian National Coalition was granted Syria's seat in the Arab League in 2013, but the next year it was decided that the seat would remain vacant until the opposition stabilized its institutions.^[123] SNC representatives were allowed to participate in the Arab League's meetings on an exceptional basis.^[124]France was one of the first Western countries to recognize the Syrian opposition and has maintained its support for the transitional government.^[125] TheEuropean Union recognized theSyrian National Coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in 2012.^[126]

During the civil war, the opposition as a whole was characterised as "terrorist" byIran,^[127]Russia^[128] and Syria.^[129]

In December 2024, the AfghanTaliban Administration congratulated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham on their victory over the Assad regime.^[130]

Initially, theFree Syrian Army was perceived as the ultimate military force of the Syrian Opposition, but with the collapse of many FSA factions and emergence of powerful Islamist groups, it became clear to the opposition that only a cooperation of secular military forces and moderate Islamists could form a sufficient coalition to battle both the Syrian Government forces and radical Jihadists such asISIL and in some casesal-Nusra Front.

In 2014, the military forces associated with the Syrian Opposition were defined by theSyrian Revolutionary Command Council, which in turn was mainly relying on theFree Syrian Army (with links toSyrian National Coalition) and theIslamic Front. Members of the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council:

• Free Syrian Army:Paramilitary that has been active during the Syrian civil war.^[131][132] Composed mainly of defectedSyrian Armed Forces personnel,^[133][134] its formation was announced on 29 July 2011 in a video released on the Internet by a uniformed group of deserters from the Syrian military who called upon members of the Syrian army to defect and join them.^[135] The leader of the group, who identified himself as ColonelRiad al-Asaad, announced that the Free Syrian Army would work with demonstrators to bring down the system, and declared that all security forces attacking civilians are justified targets.^[136][137] It has also been reported that many former Syrian Consulates are trying to band together a Free Syrian Navy from fishermen and defectors to secure the coast.^[138]
  • Syrian Turkmen Brigades: An armed opposition structure of Syrian Turkmens fighting against Syrian Armed Forces. It is also the military wing of Syrian Turkmen Assembly. It is led by ColonelMuhammad Awad andAli Basher.
  • Syrian Free Army – Free Syrian Army unit trained by, and politically very close to, the United States. It remains the last unit in theAl-Tanf area, and functions as the de facto opposition government there.
• Islamic Front: An Islamist rebel group formed in November 2013 and led byAhrar al-Sham.^[139] It was always a loose alliance and was defunct by 2015.^[140]
• Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): An alliance that brings together many multi-ethnic and multi-religious militias, and is controlled by the forces affiliated with the KurdishDemocratic Union Party represented by thePeople's Protection Units and theWomen's Protection Units.^[141] These forces are characterized by a less hostile attitude towards the Syrian regime than other opposition brigades. They function de facto as the armed forces of theAutonomous Administration of North and East Syria and are also recognized as such by the Administration.^[142]

Other rebel fighting forces:

• Syrian Islamic Front : An Insurgent umbrella organisation of Salafist Rebels that were led byAhrar ash-Sham, It Merged with theSyrian Islamic Liberation Front to the form the Islamic Front.
• Syrian Islamic Liberation Front: The major rebel fighting coalition independent of the FSA in the period 2012–2013, including the moderate Islamist groupsSuqour al-Sham,Al-Tawhid Brigade andJaysh al-Islam, deploying up to half the opposition's fighting force. Its main members joined the Islamic Front in 2013.
• Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army: A coalition of mainly Arab and Turkmen opposition fighters in Northern Syria, armed and backed byTurkey since May 2017, partially reorganized as theSyrian National Army in December 2017.
• National Front for Liberation: A coalition of FSA groups inIdlib and NW Syria formed in early 2018 and backed byTurkey.
• Syrian Liberation Front: An Islamist rebel group formed in early 2018 and includingAhrar al-Sham and theNour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, the largest rebel fighting groups in NW Syria.

• Abdulrazak Eid, Syrian writer and thinker, participated in finding the Committees for the Civil Society in Syria, wrote the first draft ofthe Statement of 1000, and participated in drafting theDamascus Declaration, president of the national council ofDamascus Declaration abroad.
• Ammar Abdulhamid, leading Human-Rights Advocate, Founder ofTharwa Foundation, first Syrian to testify in front ofAmerican Congress 2006/2008, briefed Presidents of the United States, and called for Syria Revolution in 2006.^[143]
• Aref Dalilah, prominent economist, professor, former member of Syrian Parliament and a member of theDamascus Declaration
• Burhan Ghalioun, former head of the SNC
• Riad al-Asaad, a leader in theFree Syrian Army
• Riad Seif, former head of theForum for National Dialogue
• Riyad al-Turk, ex-communist politician and liberal democrat
• Haitham al-Maleh, leadinghuman rightsactivist and former judge
• Anwar al-Bunni, human rights lawyer, democracy activist and political prisoner
• Maher Arar, Syrian-Canadian human rights activist
• Marwan Habash, politician and writer and pre-Assad Minister of Industry
• Michel Kilo,Christian^[144] writer andhuman rights activist, who has been called "one of Syria's leading opposition thinkers"^[145]
• Kamal al-Labwani, doctor and artist, considered one of the most prominent members of the Syrian opposition movement
• Tal al-Mallohi, blogger fromHoms and world's youngestprisoner of conscience
• Yassin al-Haj Saleh, writer and political dissident
• Fares Tammo, son of assassinatedKurdish politicianMashaal Tammo
• Bassma Kodmani, an academic and former spokesperson of the SNC
• Radwan Ziadeh, co-spokesperson for the SNC
• Randa Kassis, president of the Coalition of Secular and Democratic Syrians
• Fadwa Suleiman, leader of protests in Homs
• Razan Ghazzawi, prominent blogger
• Samar Yazbek, Syrian author and journalist. She was awarded the 2012PEN Pinter International Writer of Courage Award for her book,A Woman in the Crossfire: Diaries of the Syrian Revolution. She fled Syria in 2011 but continues to be an outspoken critic of the al-Assad government from abroad, from Europe and the US.
• Razan Zaitouneh, leader in theLocal Coordination Committees of Syria and the 2011Sakharov Prize winner
• Muhammad al-Yaqoubi Sunni Muslim scholar and preacher, currently residing in exile inMorocco
• Hussam Awak, ex-Syrian Air Force andAir Force Intelligence Directorate officer who later joined theSyrian Democratic Forces
• Abdulhakim Bachar: one of the most prominentKurdish figures participating in theNational Coalition, where he served as Vice President of the National Coalition for several sessions.^[146] He is also a founding member of theDamascus Declaration, as well as a founding member of theKurdish National Council and its first elected president.^[147]

• Belligerents in the Syrian Civil War
• List of political parties in Syria
• Syrian civil war

• Syrian Civil War Overview