Interactive Map: Assessed Control of Terrain in Syria

This interactive map complements the daily conflict coverage that the combined ISW-CTP team produces for conflicts in the Middle East.

ISW’s and CTP's daily campaign assessments of activity in Syria, including our static maps, are available at  understandingwar.org  and  criticalthreats.org ; you can subscribe to these daily reports and other updates  here . For additional insights and analysis from ISW and CTP, follow us on Twitter  @TheStudyofWar  and  @CriticalThreats . For media inquiries, please email  press@understandingwar.org .

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Assessed Control of Terrain in Syria as of April 15, 2025, 2:00 PM EST

Lost Regime Territory: The Lost Regime Territory Layer represents territory that the Assad Regime used to control before November 27, 2024. The intent of this layer is to visualize territory that the Assad Regime previously exercised control over.  Opposition rebel groups are very likely operating in areas within the Lost Regime Territory Layer. ISW-CTP will map – and where possible identify – these rebel groups’ verified presence when ISW-CTP collects enough data to do so.

HTS-led Interim Government: The HTS-led Interim Government layer shows all areas controlled, occupied, or seized by forces affiliated with the Department of Military Operations based in Damascus, and shows the forward line of own troops for the HTS-led Interim Government. ISW-CTP uses the US military doctrinal term “forward line of own troops (FLOT)” to indicate the most forward positions of forces in any kind of military operation at a specific time (JP 3-03). The FLOT does not include small, long-range reconnaissance assets and similar stay-behind forces. This layer was referred to as the HTS-led Opposition Forces layer prior to January 20, 2025.

Syrian Democratic Forces: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) layer shows all areas controlled, occupied, or seized by forces affiliated with the SDF, and shows the forward line of own troops for SDF forces. ISW-CTP uses the US military doctrinal term “forward line of own troops (FLOT)” to indicate the most forward positions of forces in any kind of military operation at a specific time (JP 3-03). The FLOT does not include small, long-range reconnaissance assets and similar stay-behind forces. 

Turkish-backed Syrian National Army: The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) layer shows all areas controlled, occupied, or seized by forces affiliated with the SNA, and shows the forward line of own troops for SNA forces. ISW-CTP uses the US military doctrinal term “forward line of own troops (FLOT)” to indicate the most forward positions of forces in any kind of military operation at a specific time (JP 3-03). The FLOT does not include small, long-range reconnaissance assets and similar stay-behind forces.

Al Tanf Deconfliction Zone: The Al Tanf Deconfliction Zone is a 55km zone controlled by the Free Syrian Army, which operates alongside the US military from al Tanf Garrison. Control is a US military doctrinal term that is defined as “a tactical mission task that requires the commander to maintain physical influence over a specified area to prevent its use by an enemy or to create conditions necessary for successful friendly operations." (FM 3-90-1)

Unidentified Opposition Groups: The Unidentified Opposition Group layer displays areas previously assessed as Regime-controlled where ISW now assesses that opposition groups have established control beyond mere presence. Inclusion of a town under this layer does not imply that ISW assesses that the town is part of any organized frontline. ISW cannot assess with confidence the identities of these opposition groups or that these opposition groups control areas between these towns, however.

Israel Defense Forces: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) layer shows all areas controlled, occupied, or seized by forces affiliated with the IDF, and shows the forward line of own troops for IDF forces. ISW-CTP uses the US military doctrinal term “forward line of own troops (FLOT)” to indicate the most forward positions of forces in any kind of military operation at a specific time (JP 3-03). The FLOT does not include small, long-range reconnaissance assets and similar stay-behind forces.

SNA-SDF Contested: The SNA-SDF Contested layer shows areas where ISW-CTP assesses both the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) conduct both offensive and defensive maneuvers. Neither group exercises full control over terrain in these areas. This reality may result in competing evidence regarding the control, occupation, seizure, and forward line of own troops affiliated with the SNA and SDF. Both the SNA and the SDF may be able to conduct minimally effective logistics and administrative support of forces in the area, but could have inconsistent access to local populations and key terrain.

HTS-SDF Contested: The HTS-SDF Contested layer shows areas where ISW-CTP assesses both the HTS-led Opposition and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) conduct both offensive and defensive maneuvers. Neither group exercises full control over terrain in these areas. This reality may result in competing evidence regarding the control, occupation, seizure, and forward line of own troops affiliated with the HTS-led Opposition and SDF. Both the HTS-led Opposition and the SDF may be able to conduct minimally effective logistics and administrative support of forces in the area, but could have inconsistent access to local populations and key terrain.