If you thought the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 meant Syria was finally heading for a quiet chapter, well, honestly, you haven't been watching the news lately. It’s messy. The "post-Assad" era hasn't been the clean break many hoped for. Instead of a single war, we’re seeing a dozen smaller ones flare up at once. It's like a game of musical chairs where everyone is trying to grab a piece of the country before the music stops, except the music never actually stops.
So, who is attacking Syria right now?
It depends on which city you're standing in. In the first few weeks of 2026, the map looks like a jagged puzzle. We have the new transitional government in Damascus—led by the former rebel chief Ahmed al-Sharaa—trying to act like a real state, while at the same time launching heavy military strikes against Kurdish-led groups in the north. Then you’ve got the United States and Jordan dropping bombs on ISIS hideouts in the desert. Oh, and Israel? They’ve been crossing the border into the south to set up "buffer zones." It's a lot.
Basically, the "who" is a rotating door of local militias, regional powers, and global superpowers, all claiming they’re just trying to "stabilize" the place.
The January 2026 Aleppo Clashes: Government vs. SDF
The most intense fighting recently has been centered in Aleppo. If you’ve followed Syria for a while, you know Aleppo is the heart of everything. Right now, it’s a flashpoint between the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
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For a few months in 2025, there was this shaky "March 10 Agreement." The idea was that the SDF—the Kurdish-led group that basically destroyed ISIS with US help—would eventually merge into the national army. But trust is a rare commodity in Syria.
Things exploded on January 6, 2026.
The government in Damascus claimed the SDF used drones to hit a military vehicle. The SDF said, "No, we didn't." Regardless of who started it, the result was a full-scale assault. For four days, Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods were under siege. We’re talking tanks in the streets and drone strikes hitting hospitals. By January 10, the SDF was forced to pull out, heading east toward their heartlands.
It’s a huge win for the Sharaa government, but it left the city in ruins again. Water stations were knocked out. Hospitals were destroyed. Over 150,000 people had to run for their lives. It’s a grim reminder that the new bosses in Damascus aren't afraid to use the same heavy-handed tactics as the old ones.
Why the US is Still Launching Strikes
You might be wondering why American jets are still in Syrian airspace. Didn't ISIS lose its "Caliphate" years ago?
Yes, but they didn't vanish. They just moved into the caves.
On December 13, 2025, an ISIS gunman pulled off a deadly ambush in the ancient city of Palmyra. Two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed. In the world of Middle Eastern geopolitics, that kind of thing never goes unanswered.
Enter Operation Hawkeye Strike.
Just a few days ago, on January 10, 2026, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched what they called "large-scale" strikes across the country. They weren't alone, either. Jordan’s air force joined in. They hit dozens of targets in the desert regions where ISIS militants try to regroup.
The US is in a weird spot. President Trump has been vocal about wanting to leave, but the military is worried that if they walk away now, ISIS will just walk right back into the cities. So, for now, the drones keep flying.
Israel’s Expanding "Buffer Zone"
In the south, things are different but equally tense. Israel has never been comfortable with what happens on its northern border. When the Assad regime collapsed, Israel didn't just sit back and watch.
They moved in.
Specifically, Israeli forces took control of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights and even pushed further into Syrian territory. They claim it’s necessary to prevent groups like Hezbollah or remnants of Iranian-backed militias from setting up shop.
Last July, Israel even bombed government buildings in the middle of Damascus. They called it a "warning." They’ve basically told the new Syrian government: "Don't even think about moving your troops near our border." It’s a massive violation of Syrian sovereignty, but with the country in such a state of flux, there isn't much the government in Damascus can do besides complain to the UN.
The Turkish Factor
Turkey is the elephant in the room. They have thousands of troops in northern Syria and a very clear goal: make sure the Kurdish YPG (which makes up the core of the SDF) never gets a permanent state.
Ankara has been backing the Sharaa government's recent move to push the SDF out of Aleppo. In fact, there are reports that Turkish drones were providing the "eye in the sky" for the Syrian army during the January assault.
There’s a lot of chatter about a new Turkish offensive coming in February 2026. If the SDF doesn't give up more territory east of the Euphrates, Turkey might just decide to take it by force. They want a "Terror-Free Syria," which is basically code for a Syria where Kurdish groups have zero power.
What This Means for You
It’s easy to look at Syria and see a permanent disaster, but the shifts happening right now actually matter for global security.
- ISIS is the "Zombie" Threat: They aren't holding cities, but they can still kill. As long as they exist, the US and its allies will stay involved.
- The New Government is Aggressive: Ahmed al-Sharaa isn't just a placeholder. He’s trying to unify the country by force, which is why he's attacking the Kurds and trying to reign in local militias.
- A "New" Russia: Moscow has actually been trying to play peacemaker lately. They’ve even offered to patrol the southern border to keep Israel and Syria from starting a full-blown war.
If you’re trying to stay ahead of the curve, watch the "March 10 Agreement" updates. If the deal between the Kurds and the government officially dies, 2026 is going to be a very violent year.
Practical Steps to Stay Informed:
- Follow CENTCOM's official updates for the latest on anti-ISIS operations.
- Keep an eye on the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR); they usually have the first word on ground movements.
- Monitor Turkish state media (like TRT World) to see when the rhetoric against the SDF ramps up—that’s usually the signal for a new invasion.
The war isn't over. It just changed its name.