Rebels advance near Aleppo as Syrian and Russian intensify airstrikes

Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported that Islamist rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government have advanced to within one kilometer of the outskirts of Aleppo.

On Thursday, the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its affiliated groups announced that they had seized control of several towns and villages in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. The attacks began on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Russian and Syrian fighter jets bombed areas in northwestern Syria to prevent the rebels from getting closer to Aleppo.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that over 180 people have been killed on both sides in the recent clashes. The human rights group also stated that at least 19 civilians were killed in airstrikes by Syrian and Russian forces on rebel-controlled areas.

The Syrian military stated that its forces have been engaged in “large-scale” operations to counter what they called an attack by “terrorists,” inflicting significant losses on the rebels.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously known as the al-Nusra Front, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.

This attack is considered the largest assault on Aleppo since March 2020, when Russia, supporting Assad, and Turkey, backing the rebels, agreed to a ceasefire that ended years of fighting in the province.

Turkish security sources said that the rebels initially launched a limited operation after Syrian government forces’ attacks, but expanded their offensive after the government forces withdrew from their positions.

Last month, the UN Special Envoy for Syria warned that the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon are dangerously accelerating the situation in northwestern Syria. He mentioned that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has carried out significant attacks on government-held areas.

According to the Syrian Observatory, rebels advanced to the western outskirts of Aleppo on Wednesday, coming within ten kilometers of the city. They captured a Syrian military base and at least eight villages.

On Thursday, the Observatory reported that the rebels cut a major highway between Aleppo and Damascus, 15 kilometers southwest of Aleppo, and took control of an intersection on the M5 and M4 highways near Saraqeb.

The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, continues to cause devastation. Over one and a half million people have been killed, and millions have been displaced. Despite ceasefires and negotiations, the conflict remains unresolved, with Idlib serving as the last major stronghold for rebel groups, particularly under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The situation remains volatile, as both regional and international actors continue to play significant roles in the ongoing battles. The civilians in these areas, already suffering the consequences of years of war, are facing even greater risks as the conflict intensifies.

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