If you haven’t checked the headlines about the Middle East in a few months, you might be under the impression that the same old maps and the same old dictators are still in place. Honestly, that’s a fair assumption. For over a decade, the Syrian conflict felt like a permanent fixture of the nightly news—a grinding stalemate that seemed like it would never end.
But things changed. Fast.
If you’re asking is the war still going on in Syria, the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It’s more like "the war you remember is over, but the peace hasn't actually started yet."
The Massive Shift: Did the War End?
To understand where we are right now in January 2026, we have to look back at the seismic shift of late 2024. For years, Bashar al-Assad seemed untouchable, backed by Russian jets and Iranian-funded militias. Then, the floor fell out.
In December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed.
It wasn't a slow burn. It was a lightning-fast offensive. The rebel group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), alongside various Turkish-backed factions, swept through Aleppo and Hama before marching into Damascus. Assad fled, and for the first time in over 50 years, the Ba'athist grip on the country was broken. Most historians and news outlets now mark December 8, 2024, as the official "end" of the Syrian Civil War.
But here’s the thing. Just because a regime falls doesn't mean the shooting stops.
📖 Related: Weather Forecast Lockport NY: Why Today’s Snow Isn’t Just Hype
The Reality on the Ground in 2026
So, is the war still going on in Syria today? Well, if you define "war" as a nationwide conflict between a central government and its people, that specific version is finished. However, Syria is currently a patchwork of "mini-conflicts" and a very fragile transition period under the new administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani).
Just this past week—literally days ago in January 2026—heavy fighting erupted in Aleppo. This wasn't the old rebels vs. Assad. This was the new Syrian Transitional Government (STG) forces clashing with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
It’s messy.
The SDF still controls a huge chunk of the northeast, and the new government in Damascus wants it back. Thousands of people have been displaced from neighborhoods like Sheikh Maqsoud in just the last seven days. Schools are closed again. The water stations are being shut off. To the families fleeing their homes in Aleppo right now, the war certainly feels like it's "still going on."
Who Is Running the Show Now?
The power dynamic has flipped upside down. Here is a rough breakdown of who holds what right now:
- The Syrian Transitional Government (STG): Led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. They control Damascus, Homs, Hama, and most of the coast. They are trying to rebrand from their hardline Islamist roots into a more "inclusive" national government to get international sanctions lifted.
- The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): This is the Kurdish-led group in the northeast. They were the West’s primary partner in fighting ISIS. They have their own autonomous administration, but they’re currently under immense pressure from both Damascus and Turkey.
- The "Stay-Behind" Insurgencies: This is where it gets scary. There are still Alawite-majority areas in the coastal mountains where pro-Assad remnants carry out hit-and-run attacks.
- ISIS: They haven't disappeared. Just last week, U.S. and Allied forces carried out massive airstrikes against ISIS sleeper cells in central Syria after an attack killed three Americans.
Basically, the "Big War" is over, but the "Small Wars" are everywhere.
👉 See also: Economics Related News Articles: What the 2026 Headlines Actually Mean for Your Wallet
The Humanitarian Hangover
You’ve probably seen the "Return to Syria" travel vlogs popping up on social media. Some parts of Damascus are indeed seeing a revival. Cafes are open, and people are trying to rebuild. There’s even a weird niche tourism boom starting.
But don't let the Instagram filters fool you.
The UN recently reported that over 10 million people in Syria will still need humanitarian aid through 2026. The infrastructure is trashed. We’re talking about 14 years of systemic destruction. Even in areas where there hasn't been a gunshot in a year, there’s no steady electricity, and the "explosive remnants of war"—landmines and unexploded shells—are still killing kids in rural areas.
There’s also a massive sectarian tension. The Alawite and Druze minorities are understandably terrified of what an HTS-led government means for them. There have been targeted bombings in mosques and protests in Latakia that turned violent just a few months ago.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the "rebels" won and everyone lived happily ever after. In reality, the "rebels" were never one single group. The current government in Damascus is trying to absorb dozens of different militias into a unified national army.
It’s like trying to herd cats with machine guns.
✨ Don't miss: Why a Man Hits Girl for Bullying Incidents Go Viral and What They Reveal About Our Breaking Point
Some militias refused to disarm. Some went rogue and became local warlords. This "warlordism" is actually the biggest threat to Syria right now, not a return of the Assad family.
Why This Still Matters for You
You might think, "Okay, but why does this affect me?"
First, the refugee crisis. Over 6 million Syrians are still outside the country. Whether they feel safe enough to return depends entirely on whether this transitional government can actually provide security. If Syria collapses into a failed state again, we could see a new wave of displacement toward Europe.
Second, the regional players. Israel is currently occupying parts of the buffer zone in the south, citing security concerns about Iran-backed groups. Turkey is heavily involved in the north. The U.S. still has troops on the ground. Syria remains the "chessboard" of the Middle East.
Practical Steps to Stay Informed
If you want to keep track of whether the situation is improving or devolving, don't just look for "Syria war" in the news. Look for these specific indicators:
- The SDF-Damascus Negotiations: If these fail, a new full-scale war in the northeast is almost certain.
- Sanction Status: Watch if the U.S. or EU actually lifts sanctions on the new government. This is the only way the economy recovers.
- The Return of Refugees: Keep an eye on the numbers coming back from Lebanon and Jordan. If they stop returning, it means the security situation is worse than the government claims.
The war in Syria isn't a single event you can just switch off. It's a long, painful transition from a dictatorship to whatever comes next. It’s a country trying to find its feet while still standing on a minefield.
To get a clearer picture of the current territorial reality, you should check the latest interactive maps from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) or the Carter Center, which track these shifting frontlines in real-time.