In a stunning turn of events, the long-simmering conflict in Syria has exploded into renewed violence as jihadist rebels launched a major offensive against government forces in the north. The insurgents managed to cut the vital Damascus-Aleppo highway, a strategic blow that has left nearly 200 people dead in the escalating clashes.
Rebels Sever Key Highway Amid Deadly Battles
On Wednesday, the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and allied factions unleashed a surprise attack on government positions in northern Aleppo province. The ensuing fighting, described as the fiercest in years, has cut off the M5 highway connecting Damascus and Aleppo, Syria’s two largest cities.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that the death toll from the ongoing battles has surged to 182, including 102 HTS fighters, 19 from allied rebel groups, and 61 government forces. Civilians have also paid a heavy price, with Russian airstrikes in the Aleppo countryside claiming at least 19 lives.
Strategic Implications and Regional Involvement
The rebel offensive appears aimed at preempting a potential government campaign in the Aleppo region, which Russian and Syrian airstrikes had been preparing for. By severing the M5 and M4 highway junction, the insurgents have dealt a blow to the regime’s ability to move forces and supplies.
The involvement of Turkey-backed factions in the rebel assault sends a message to Damascus and its Russian ally. According to analyst Nick Heras, “Ankara is telling them to back down from their military efforts in northwest Syria.” With Hezbollah forces focused on the recent conflict with Israel in Lebanon, the rebels may hold an advantage on the ground.
Iran’s Losses and Israel’s Shadow War
The battle in northern Syria claimed the life of an Iranian Revolutionary Guards general on Thursday, underscoring Iran’s deep involvement in propping up the Assad regime. This comes as Israel has intensified strikes on Iranian proxies in Syria, taking advantage of Hezbollah’s preoccupation in Lebanon.
The timing of the rebel offensive, launched just as the Israel-Hezbollah truce took effect, was no coincidence. “The rebels have been planning this for a while,” noted analyst Haid Haid. “But if they waited too long, the regime would’ve reinforced its frontlines once Hezbollah was free from the Lebanon war.”
A Conflict With No End in Sight
The Idlib region, where HTS holds sway, has been subject to a fragile ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia. But the truce, meant to freeze the lines after a government offensive in 2020, has been repeatedly violated. The new rebel assault threatens to shatter it completely.
Syria’s civil war, now in its 12th year, has been marked by shifting alliances, foreign interventions, and the rise of jihadist groups. Triggered by the brutal suppression of anti-government protests in 2011, the conflict has killed over 500,000 people, displaced millions more, and left the country in ruins.
As the Damascus-Aleppo highway battle rages, it’s clear that Syria’s agony is far from over. The war has become a complex web of local rivalries and great power competition, with ordinary Syrians caught in the middle. Rebel gains may prove fleeting, but the human toll continues to mount in a conflict that has already cost Syrians so much.
