Operation Deterrence of Aggression was an offensive launched by Idlib Governorate-based Syrian rebel groups against pro-government Syrian Arab Army forces in Idlib, Aleppo, and Hama Governorates in 2024, permanently ending a four-year ceasefire and reigniting the Syrian Civil War. The offensive coincided with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the 2024 Iran-Israel conflict, distracting the Syrian government's main allies from the Syrian theatre of the Second Cold War.
In response to the increased SAA shelling of civilians in the western Aleppo countryside, which was interpreted as government preparations for an offensive, the Islamist group Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army launched a joint offensive that made rapid advances and captured dozens of towns and villages. Government forces collapsed in the face of the rebel attack, and Urm al-Kubra, Anjara, Urm al-Sughra, Sheikh Aqil, Bara, Ajil, Awijil, al-Hawtah, Tal al-Dabaa, Hayr Darkal, Qubtan al-Jabal, al-Saloum, al-Qasimiyah, Kafr Bisin, Hawr, Aznaz and Basratoun fell to the rebels in the first ten hours. Other Islamist groups such as Ajnad al-Kavkaz, Liwa al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar, and the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria joined in HTS' offensive, and Aleppo fell to the rebels on 30 November as government forces withdrew toward as-Safirah. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces filled the power vacuum by occupying parts of Aleppo and vast swathes of countryside, but the SDF and the Turkish-backed rebels immediately began to clash along the front lines. The rebels expanded their offensive with Operation Dawn of Freedom, meant to cut off the SDF's supply networks.
Also on 30 November, HTS-led opposition forces advanced into Hama Governorate and captured Halfaya, Morek, al-Lataminah, Kafr Zita, Qalaat al-Madiq, Kafr Nabudah, Karnaz, Lahaya, al-Buwaydah, Latmin, Sawran, al-Mughayyir, Maardis, Al-Suqaylabiyah, Mharda, and Taybat al-Imam. On 1 December, Syrian government forces reorganized on the northern outskirts of Hama and were able to push the rebels back. At the same time, however, the SNA captured as-Safirah, Khanasir, and the Kuweires airbase in the Aleppo countryside. On 1 December, the SNA launched an offensive against SDF-held Tell Rifaat, and, on 2 December, the SDF decided to evacuate Kurdish refugees to their territories in Aleppo. At the same time, the Russian Air Force stepped up its airstrikes against rebel positions.
On 5 December, after encircling the city of Hama, the rebels moved into the city, forcing SAA forces to evacuate. HTS released hundreds of prisoners from the Central Prison and vowed to advance to Homs, calling on its citizens to rise up against the regime.