Syria rebel offensive Aleppo: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham makes gains, challenges Syrian government control

A Syria rebel offensive in Aleppo, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has resulted in the capture of significant territory in northern Aleppo province, including areas within Aleppo city. The insurgents launched their surprise attack on Wednesday, swiftly advancing through a dozen towns and villages previously controlled by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. By Friday, opposition sources confirmed that rebels had reached several neighbourhoods in the heart of Aleppo, marking the first significant loss of territory for the Syrian government in the city since it was retaken in 2016.

The Syrian government, backed by Russia and Iran, has responded with a barrage of airstrikes aimed at halting the insurgent advance. Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed the areas near the border with Turkey on Thursday, targeting rebel positions in an effort to push back the offensive. Despite these efforts, opposition forces, bolstered by strategic support, have made surprising gains, with some sources suggesting that Iran’s influence in the region has been weakened due to setbacks in its engagements elsewhere, such as in Gaza.

In an effort to tighten control, Syrian authorities have closed the Aleppo airport and all surrounding roads, a move confirmed by military sources. Rebel leaders, including Mustafa Abdul Jaber of the Jaish al-Izza brigade, attribute the rapid success of their operation to insufficient manpower from Iran-backed forces, which have been stretched thin due to the broader regional conflict.

Meanwhile, Turkish sources have indicated that Turkey gave the green light to the offensive, though Turkish officials have since voiced concerns about the broader instability the attack could cause. Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli stated that the recent escalation undermines de-escalation agreements established between Turkey and Russia in March 2020.

The Syrian government has denied rebel claims that they have reached the city, with state television reporting that Russian air support has bolstered Syrian military efforts in the region. Despite these claims, sources on the ground report continued fierce fighting in the countryside around Aleppo and Idlib, with both sides suffering casualties.

The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians, with at least 27 reported dead, including children as young as eight. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that four civilians, including two students, were killed in Aleppo on Friday due to insurgent shelling on student dormitories. These deaths add to the mounting humanitarian crisis in northwest Syria, where attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure continue to violate international humanitarian law.