Russia launched a series of air strikes in Syria on Sunday, targeting key rebel positions as opposition forces advanced toward the south. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the strikes killed four people and wounded 50 others in Idlib, a city in north-western Syria. Rural areas of Idlib and Hama, recently captured by rebel groups, were also hit.

This latest offensive, which began earlier in the week, marks some of the fiercest fighting in Syria’s civil war in recent years. Since Wednesday, over 300 people have been killed, including at least 20 civilians.

Rebels Take Aleppo Amid Russian Strikes

For the first time since 2016, Russian forces carried out air strikes on Aleppo on Saturday. Rebel fighters, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), made significant gains in the city, capturing large sections with minimal resistance. Aleppo, once a stronghold of the opposition, fell to government forces in 2016, but it is now back in rebel hands.

The rebels have pushed southward, advancing into several towns near Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city. Syrian forces have drawn up defensive lines around key towns in the region, with both Syrian and Russian warplanes intensifying air strikes on rebel positions. These strikes have resulted in multiple casualties.

Syrian Military Responds

The Syrian military has reinforced its defenses in the region, deploying additional troops, heavy artillery, and rocket launchers. The government claims to have recaptured several towns from the rebels and stopped their advance. President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to protect Syria’s stability, promising to eliminate the terrorist threat with the help of allies, including Russia and Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi, expressed his country’s full support for the Syrian government and military, signaling continued backing in the face of the ongoing offensive.

The State of Syria’s Civil War

The Syrian civil war began in 2011, when protests against Assad’s government were met with violent crackdowns. Since then, the war has claimed the lives of nearly half a million people. While much of the fighting has died down since a 2020 ceasefire, opposition forces continue to control Idlib and surrounding areas.

Idlib is located just 55 km from Aleppo, which was previously a rebel stronghold. The current offensive, spearheaded by HTS and allied factions backed by Turkey, is the largest escalation in the region in years.

Rebels Gain Ground and Impose Curfew

Rebels have taken control of Aleppo’s airport and several nearby towns. A curfew has been imposed, starting at 5 p.m. local time. The rebels have also advanced southward toward Hama, while the Syrian army reportedly withdrew from some areas. However, state media disputes these claims, with military sources saying the rebels launched broad attacks along both the Aleppo and Idlib fronts, covering over 100 km of territory.

Russian Involvement in the Conflict

Russian air strikes in Aleppo and Idlib signal Moscow’s continued support for Assad. The strikes on Aleppo were the first since the city was recaptured from the opposition in 2016. The escalation is a sign that Russia remains heavily involved in Syria’s conflict, using air power to target rebel forces.

As the fighting intensifies, many residents of Aleppo are fleeing, with reports showing long lines of cars on roads leaving the city. Smoke was visible rising from the skyline, as people attempt to escape the violence.

The ongoing reliance on Russian and Iranian support, along with Syria’s failure to adhere to a 2015 UN peace plan, has contributed to the continued instability in the country, according to a U.S. spokesperson.

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Syrian rebels, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have captured most of Aleppo in a dramatic offensive that poses the biggest threat to President Bashar al-Assad’s authority in years. This unexpected move forced Syrian government forces to retreat strategically as they prepare a counteroffensive to reclaim the city.

Rebels Enter Aleppo, Breaking Years of Stalemate

The Syrian military confirmed on Saturday that opposition forces had gained control of significant portions of Aleppo, marking the first major breach since the city was fully retaken by Assad’s forces eight years ago. The military described the insurgents as “terrorists” and stated that their entry into Aleppo had forced the army to redeploy to fortify defense lines and prepare for a counterattack.

Government forces assured that airstrikes and bombardments had slowed the rebels’ progress, preventing them from establishing firm positions. They promised to “expel the insurgents and restore full control over Aleppo and its countryside.”

Broader Regional Impact

This offensive reignites conflict in northwestern Syria, a region that has seen relative calm since 2020. The fighting comes amid broader regional tensions, including wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Syrian and Russian warplanes have reportedly targeted rebel positions in Aleppo’s suburbs, while opposition sources claim the offensive stems from escalating attacks on civilians in Idlib by Syrian and Russian forces.

Turkey, a known supporter of the rebels, is believed to have approved the operation, according to opposition sources. However, Ankara has publicly expressed concern over increasing instability and warned that such actions undermine de-escalation agreements.

Civilian Casualties and Infrastructure Collapse

The Syrian Civil Defense, operating in rebel-held areas, reported airstrikes on residential neighborhoods, a gas station, and a school in Idlib, resulting in four civilian deaths and several injuries. State media noted that four civilians were killed in Aleppo when HTS shelled a student residence.

The humanitarian impact is severe, with reports of Aleppo’s streets deserted and public institutions shut down. Civilians have largely stayed indoors, fearing the crossfire.

Swift Rebel Advances

Rebel forces quickly advanced through Aleppo’s neighborhoods, capturing police buildings, key streets, and public spaces with minimal resistance. Images shared online showed fighters celebrating with the rebel flag and defacing posters of Assad.

In addition to Aleppo, rebels have reportedly seized the city of Maarrat al-Nu’man in Idlib, effectively bringing the entire province under their control. The town of Saraqib, strategically located southwest of Aleppo, has also fallen to opposition forces.

Death Toll and Regional Reactions

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, recent clashes have claimed 311 lives, including 183 rebel fighters, 100 government troops, and 28 civilians. Aleppo’s governor and top security officials have reportedly withdrawn from the city center.

Russia has pledged additional military aid to Damascus within 72 hours to support the counteroffensive. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the rebel attack a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and reaffirmed Russia’s support for restoring constitutional order.

Iran’s Role and Accusations

The offensive occurs as Iran faces regional setbacks amid the broader Middle East turmoil. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused the U.S. and Israel of backing the rebels’ actions, while opposition sources suggest the lack of Iranian manpower in Aleppo contributed to the rebels’ rapid advance.

Conclusion

The resurgence of fighting in Aleppo underscores the fragility of Syria’s stability and the complexities of a conflict shaped by international alliances and regional tensions. With government forces vowing to retake Aleppo, the coming days are likely to bring further bloodshed and uncertainty for the region’s civilians.

Source

Rebel forces claim control of Syria’s city of Aleppo • FRANCE 24 English

Rebels take control of Aleppo: ‘Total collapse’ of Syrian regime • FRANCE 24 English

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Insurgents breached the western edge of Syria’s second-largest city, Aleppo, on Friday after detonating two car bombs and clashing with government forces, according to fighters and a Syria war monitor. This marks the first attack on Aleppo by opposition forces since 2016, when they were driven out of the city’s eastern neighborhoods after a brutal military campaign backed by Russia, Iran, and allied forces.

Witnesses in Aleppo reported that residents in the western neighborhoods have been fleeing amid heavy missile strikes and intense firefights. The government has not commented on the insurgents’ breach of the city’s defenses.

In response, Syria’s Armed Forces issued a statement confirming clashes with insurgents in the Aleppo and Idlib regions. They claimed to have destroyed several enemy drones and heavy weapons and vowed to repel the assault, accusing the insurgents of spreading false information about their gains.

Thousands of insurgents began advancing toward Aleppo after launching a surprise offensive on Wednesday. The insurgents have since captured several towns and villages along the way. This offensive comes as Iran-backed groups, who have supported the Syrian government since 2015, have been preoccupied with internal conflicts.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, reported that the insurgents detonated two car bombs on the western outskirts of Aleppo on Friday.

An insurgent commander posted a message on social media calling for Aleppo residents to support the advancing forces. Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency also reported that the insurgents had entered Aleppo’s city center, claiming they had breached government defenses along the Hamdaniyya, New Aleppo, and Zahra axes on the city’s outskirts. According to their report, the insurgents now control about 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.

Earlier Friday, Syrian state media reported that insurgent projectiles struck student housing at Aleppo’s university, killing four people, including two students. To avoid clashes, public transportation to Aleppo was diverted from the main highway linking the city to Damascus.

Fighting also spread to the town of Saraqab in northwestern Idlib province, which is considered a key area for securing supply lines to Aleppo.

This offensive is one of the largest by opposition factions in recent months, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and is the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces regained territory previously held by the opposition.

The Syrian Armed Forces claimed that the insurgents are violating a 2019 de-escalation agreement, which had been in place to reduce fighting in the region, the last major opposition stronghold in Syria. The war monitor reported that dozens of fighters from both sides have been killed since the battles began on Wednesday. The insurgents have seized more than 50 villages in their advance, which appears to have taken government forces by surprise.

The offensive comes amid escalating tensions involving Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group that has supported the Syrian government. Hezbollah has been engaged in conflict with Israel, which has also conducted attacks on Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria in recent weeks. The group was a key force in helping the government regain control of Aleppo during the 2016 battle.

On Friday, insurgents reported capturing the Scientific Research Center neighborhood, located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Aleppo’s western edge. However, government-linked media denied these claims.

Videos posted online by the insurgents showed them using drones in their advance, marking a new weapon in their arsenal. However, it’s unclear how extensively the drones were used in the fighting. Anadolu Agency reported that insurgents also attacked a military airbase southeast of Aleppo, destroying a helicopter and seizing heavy weapons and vehicles from government forces.

Aid groups have reported that the ongoing clashes have displaced thousands of families and disrupted essential services. The opposition forces claim that their offensive will pave the way for the return of displaced civilians who had fled previous government bombardments.

The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a significant turning point in the Syrian Civil War, with Russian and Iranian-backed government forces retaking the city after a months-long siege. Turkey, which has supported opposition forces, maintains a military presence in parts of northwestern Syria. Meanwhile, the U.S. has supported Kurdish forces in eastern Syria, primarily in the fight against ISIS militants.

As the fighting continues to intensify, the situation in Aleppo and surrounding areas remains volatile, with no clear end in sight.

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