Syrian authorities have closed Aleppo International Airport and all major roads leading into the city, as opposition forces, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, swept into government-held areas.
The rebels, making their most significant push in years, claim to have reached the heart of Aleppo, nearly a decade after being ousted by President Bashar al-Assad's forces and their allies.
This surprise offensive comes amidst escalating tensions in the region and follows intensified airstrikes on rebel-held Idlib by Russian and Syrian forces.
The opposition’s operation began on Wednesday and, by late Friday, they reported significant progress across Aleppo neighbourhoods.
Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander of the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade, credited the rapid advance to the diminished presence of Iran-backed forces in Aleppo province. He attributed this weakness to Iran’s regional setbacks amid the broader Middle Eastern conflicts.
“This offensive is a response to indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Idlib and a pre-emptive move against potential government strikes,” Jaber stated.
The rebels’ success is the largest since 2020, when a Russia-Turkey agreement sought to de-escalate the conflict. Despite Turkey’s public call for stability, opposition sources allege that Ankara tacitly approved the offensive.
Russian support and army withdrawal
In response to the escalation, Russia has pledged additional military aid to Damascus, with reinforcements expected to arrive within 72 hours. Syrian military sources revealed that the army has been directed to enact “safe withdrawal” measures from contested areas of Aleppo.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the rebel assault, calling it a violation of Syrian sovereignty. Syrian state media denied reports of rebel gains in the city, stating that Russian air support was aiding government forces in countering the attack.
Civilians bear the brunt
The fighting has exacted a heavy toll on civilians. According to the United Nations, at least 27 non-combatants, including children as young as eight, have been killed in the past three days.
David Carden, U.N. Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, expressed grave concern:
"The situation in northwest Syria is deeply alarming, with relentless violence causing immense suffering for civilians."
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that four civilians, including two university students, were killed in Aleppo by rebel shelling targeting dormitories. However, it is unclear if these fatalities are part of the U.N.’s tally.
