Syrian rebels launch major offensive near Aleppo
Photo: Syrian rebels advance on Aleppo (screenshot from video)
Syrian armed groups opposing the government forces and the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad have launched a large-scale offensive in Aleppo province. The rebels have seized control of several settlements in the country's northwest, Associated Press reports.
During the offensive, government forces and Assad's allies carried out airstrikes and attempted to repel the rebels' advance through artillery bombardments. Reports indicate that rebel attacks have been focused on a number of villages and military bases.
The fighting has already led to the displacement of thousands, and several volunteer groups have been forced to suspend some of their humanitarian services.
According to volunteers from the Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, at least 18 people, including children and women, were killed in airstrikes on two separate villages in western Aleppo.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the airstrikes were carried out by Russian military aircraft.
Who leads the offensive
The Syrian Armed Forces announced on Thursday that the rebel offensive is led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls much of the northwestern part of Syria.
It is worth noting that HTS, formerly known as Nusra Front, is the Syrian affiliate of al-Qaeda. The group has changed its name several times and later distanced itself from al-Qaeda.
The Syrian army claims that the current offensive violates the de-escalation agreement. These clashes between government forces and the rebels represent the first major confrontation since 2020.
Renewal of fighting after a four-year "pause"
This refers to an agreement made in late 2019 between Syrian opposition groups, supported by Türkiye, and the government forces of Bashar al-Assad's regime, which Iran and Russia backed.
The agreement effectively froze the frontline and prevented the advance of Syrian government forces into Idlib province, the last stronghold of mixed radical groups and Turkish-supported Syrian rebels.
The course of the rebel offensive in Syria
According to the rebels themselves, the offensive by opposition factions began on Wednesday morning. They claim to have taken control of more than 15 settlements in northwest Aleppo.
Rebels in Syria are now at the gates of Aleppo and tearing down Assad regime and Putin posters all over the place. #freesyria pic.twitter.com/x3MZ6k47OS
— Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) November 28, 2024
Additionally, the rebels assert that they captured a Syrian army military base and equipment, as well as several soldiers.
Rebel and Opposition Forces in Northern Syria are claiming to have Captured a Massive amount of Military Equipment from the Syrian Arab Army, during their ongoing Offensive against the City of Aleppo, including at least a Dozen T-55 and T-72 Tanks, several 2S1 “Gvozdika” 122mm… pic.twitter.com/kCPSEmt4lA
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 28, 2024
According to the Syrian Observatory, on Thursday, the rebels expanded their offensive to target the rural areas of Idlib province, where government forces control the main highway and a strategic city that was previously held by the rebels.
The offensive was preceded by several weeks of "simmering violence in the area, where activists said government and allied Russian forces have stepped up their bombardment of parts of the last remaining stronghold of the opposition," according to an AP report.
Furthermore, the offensive began amid a distraction of Iran-linked groups that have supported Assad's regime since 2015, with these groups engaged in fighting outside of Syria.
Rebels approach Aleppo
On Thursday, Türkiye announced that it is closely monitoring the rebel offensive in northern Syria. Unnamed Turkish Ministry of Defense officials, quoted by the state news agency Anadolu, stated that Turkish forces have taken "all kinds of measures" to protect their troops in Syria.
Turkish security officials also said that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a limited offensive on Aleppo. However, the operation expanded as Syrian government forces began to retreat from their positions.
Photo: Syrian rebels launch a major offensive in Aleppo province
Anadolu also reported that anti-Assad armed groups in Syria had advanced to within 1 km of the outskirts of Aleppo.
During two days of clashes with the Assad regime in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, rebels seized control of 400 square kilometers of territory.
After overnight clashes, the anti-government groups advanced to the New Aleppo district, one of Aleppo's suburbs. The armed groups thus approached the city’s outskirts, reaching a distance of one kilometer from Aleppo.
Sunni rebels enter the city of Aleppo. Turkey has opened the border crossings to Syria, facilitating the flow of Turkish-backed multinational forces into Idlib and western Aleppo.
— dan linnaeus (@DanLinnaeus) November 28, 2024
Video documentation: Syrian opposition’s Al-Shaheen Brigade targeted Assad regime positions with… pic.twitter.com/Kn36zp4nR8
After two days of fighting, rebels took control of 56 settlements in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.
