Part 9/12:
By 2014 and into 2015, the Syrian Civil War consisted of multiple factions fighting for supremacy. The opposition grew increasingly fragmented, exemplifying a staggering lack of cohesion. The ongoing battle for major cities like Aleppo and Raqqa saw the triumph of ISIS, whose self-declared “caliphate” raised the stakes for all involved both domestically and abroad.
Despite having the opportunity to potentially draw the civil war to a close, the inability of moderate factions to unify against ISIS allowed the group to spread across significant regions. The complex interplay of local, national, and international politics shaped the physical and ideological landscapes of the war extensively, leading to continued violent confrontations.