The surprise offensive by Jihadist-led rebels into Aleppo reignited the Syrian civil war after four years of relative quiet and put the United States in an unenviable position.

Hayat Tahrir al Sham, recognized as a terrorist group by the United States, and allied militias have continued their offensive, battling the Syrian Arab Army outside Hama. Russia, Iran, and Iran’s proxy militias have rushed to shore up Syrian President Bashar al Assad. The U.S., meanwhile, appears to have been caught flat-footed, distancing itself from the offensive, publicly denouncing both sides, and calling for “de-escalation.”