Syrian rebels opposed to the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad, said on Friday they had reached the heart of the city of Aleppo, in the north of the territory, after a surprise action in government-controlled cities, almost a decade after their they were expelled from there.
Led by the Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, fighters on Wednesday launched an incursion against dozens of cities and towns in Aleppo province, controlled by Assad’s government, backed by Iran and Russia.
The opposition has made great progress and, late Friday, an offensive operations room said the rebels control several neighborhoods in the city.
Assad and his allies Russia, Iran and Shiite militias retook Aleppo in late 2016, with the insurgents agreeing to withdraw after months of bombings and sieges in a battle that turned the opposition’s fortunes.
The commander of the rebel Jaish al-Izza brigade, Mustafa Abdul Jaber, said the rapid advance was due to insufficient numbers of Iranian-backed men in the province. Iran’s allies in the region have suffered a series of losses against Israel as the war in the Gaza Strip has spread across the Middle East.
Opposition sources in contact with Turkish intelligence said Turkey had given the green light to the offensive. But Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said the country wanted to avoid further instability, warning that recent attacks had undermined agreements to calm the region.
The attack was the largest since March 2020, when Russia and Türkiye reached an agreement to de-escalate the conflict.
Syria’s state broadcaster denied that rebels had reached the city and said Russia was providing air support to the country’s forces.
The Syrian army said it continued to face action and caused heavy casualties to insurgents in Aleppo and Idlib.
David Carden, the United Nations (UN) deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, said: “We are deeply concerned about what is happening in northwestern Syria.”
“The incessant attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as eight,” he told Reuters.
Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that four civilians, including two students, died in Aleppo on Friday in rebel shelling of university student dormitories. It is unclear whether they were counted among the 27 deaths reported by the UN official.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
