A/HRC/25/65 conflict. The hostilities in north-eastern governorates saw Kurdish forces fighting radical Islamic armed groups in a distinct subconflict, with its own front lines and internal military dynamics. In many cases, communities in central governorates brokered localized ceasefires. 9. External factors have increasingly driven the course of the conflict. While pushing for a political solution, international stakeholders continued to support the belligerents financially and logistically to influence the outcome of the conflict in line with their respective interests. Private donors and intermediaries from the region played an instrumental role in supporting specific armed groups or operation rooms with fundraising campaigns conducted through social media. Meanwhile, thousands of foreign fighters joined the hostilities, either officially in support of the Government or clandestinely in armed groups, fuelling the sectarian dimension of the conflict with their composition and narratives. 10. Sectarian rifts became more pronounced and expanded beyond the borders of the Syrian Arab Republic, threatening security and stability in neighbouring countries. The danger of further destabilization in the region is real and of serious concern. A. Government forces and pro-government militia 11. Government forces regained several strategic areas through the use of heavy firepower, the systematic engagement of irregular forces and greater involvement of foreign forces. While maintaining most key urban centres and lines of communication under their control, they threatened armed opposition strongholds in Damascus and Aleppo. They have, however, failed to re-establish effective control of countryside previously lost to armed groups. 12. The ranks of pro-government irregular forces, both paramilitary and militia groups, and their use in direct combat operations grew. Besides the National Defence Forces, the Baath party battalions, popular committees and shabbiha groups continued to operate in their neighbourhoods while increasingly engaged in support of the military on a regular basis. The Government also benefited from the support of foreign combat units, including Hizbullah and Iraqi militia, particularly in critical operations. 13. As part of their strategy aimed at weakening the insurgents and breaking the will of their popular base, government forces besieged several localities, a strategy reinforced by prolonged shelling campaigns. Partial sieges aimed at expelling armed groups turned into tight blockades that prevented the delivery of basic supplies, including food and medicine, as part of a “starvation until submission” campaign. B. Non-State armed groups 14. As the conflict intensified, non-State armed groups, encompassing all nongovernment aligned armed groups, engaged in sequential realignments and infighting. Fragmentation thwarted initiatives to bring them under a unified command with a cohesive structure and a clear strategy. Persisting ideological, political and social differences resulted in diverse and sometimes antagonistic positions. 15. Connectivity among armed groups improved across the country, leading to the establishment of permanent or temporary coordination and integration mechanisms, including coalitions and operation rooms. These realignments were based on common tactical objectives, shared ideologies, pressure from external backers or simply operational necessity. In this context, local Islamic coalitions, such as the Islamic Front, have 5