Syrian insurgents launched a significant offensive in northwestern Syria on Friday, pushing into the outskirts of Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city, a war monitor reported. Insurgents detonated two automobile bombs on the western edge of Aleppo, sparking clashes with government forces.
Thousands of insurgents under their leadership Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) moved into government-held areas, capturing several towns and villages resulting in Aleppo, AP reported. This marks the most intense fighting in the region since 2020 and the largest insurgent offensive in Aleppo since 2016.
Syrian state media reported that rebel missiles hit student apartments in Aleppo’s university center, killing 4 people, including two students. Official media reported that public transport was diverted from the predominant Aleppo-Damascus highway to avoid conflict areas, while residents reported hearing rockets on the outskirts of the city.
The insurgents also attacked Saraqab, a strategic town in Idlib province that secures supply lines to Aleppo. The Syrian Armed Forces said the insurgents were violating the 2019 de-escalation agreement. Airstrikes targeted insurgent positions in Aleppo and Idlib.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported dozens of casualties on each side since fighting began on Wednesday. According to reports, the insurgents took control of over 50 villages.
The insurgents also took control of the Scientific Research Center district near Aleppo, a move disputed by government-linked media.
Additionally, Turkiye’s Anadolu Agency reported that the insurgents had captured a big area in Aleppo and Idlib, reaching inside one kilometer of Aleppo city. They also reportedly attacked an air base, destroying a helicopter and confiscating weapons and vehicles.
The offensive coincides with a ceasefire announced Wednesday between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group that supports Syrian government forces. “Hezbollah was the main force in government control of the city,” said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory. On Friday, in the face of the ongoing insurgent attack, Iran reaffirmed its support for its ally Syria. According to an official statement, during a telephone conversation with Syrian counterpart Bassam al-Sabbagh, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi “stressed Iran’s continued support to the government, people and army of Syria in their fight against terrorism.”
During the fighting in Syria, aid organizations reported mass displacement of families in consequence of the conflict, resulting in disruptions in the provision of basic services. Opposition forces, nevertheless, argued that their military campaign would enable many displaced people to return home after previously being evacuated as a consequence of government attacks.
