Rebel forces are a loose grouping of disparate armed factions that have emerged in places around the world to oppose authoritarian rule. They often blur the line between movement and government, and have fuelled global debates about legitimacy, human rights, and the enduring complexities of insurgency.
Until recently, Syria’s 14-year civil war seemed to be entering a quiet phase. But last week, an Islamist-led coalition spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept through areas held by Syrian President Assad’s regime, seizing the country’s second largest city of Aleppo in a surprise attack. The HTS offensive has now expanded into the Syrian government-held province of Hama.
The rebel force’s sudden rise has raised questions about how it will govern the broader territory that it now controls. Historically, rebel forces have struggled to present a unified governance structure. Their lack of cohesion has often weakened their overall ability to govern. But HTS rebels in the de-escalation zones have been disciplined in military conduct and shown outreach to minority communities, suggesting that the group is trying to develop some level of local and potentially international legitimacy.
The HTS advance has also brought back fears of a wider insurgency, as rebel groups around the world seek to challenge authority and take control of their own destiny. This is not the first time in history that rebel forces have raised questions about their governance and moral character. The National Liberation Front (FLN) fought a bloody campaign for Algerian independence from 1954 to 1962, and their tactics and sacrifices fueled anti-colonial movements across Africa.
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