In a stunning development that marks the gravest threat to Bashar al-Assad’s rule in years, Islamist-led rebels have seized control of large swathes of Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city. The surprise offensive, spearheaded by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has triggered the fiercest fighting seen in Syria in recent memory.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based war monitor, the rebels launched their attack on government-held areas of northern Aleppo province on Wednesday. In the ensuing clashes, over 300 combatants and at least 20 civilians have been killed. The insurgents managed to overrun Aleppo’s airport and dozens of nearby towns, a military source confirmed.
Russia Responds with Blistering Airstrikes
As the Syrian army scrambles to repel the rebel advance, Russia has unleashed a barrage of airstrikes on opposition-held parts of Idlib and Hama provinces. Moscow, a key backer of Assad’s regime, targeted areas recently captured by HTS and its allies, the SOHR reported. At least one civilian was killed when Russian warplanes bombed a refugee camp in Idlib.
The Idlib region is subject to a fraying ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia in March 2020. That agreement halted a major government offensive which had displaced nearly a million people, but violations by both sides have escalated in recent months. The latest rebel assault appears to have shattered any semblance of a truce.
Iran Vows Support for Syrian Government
As the situation in northern Syria deteriorates, Iran has pledged to stand firmly behind Assad’s government. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced he will visit Damascus on Sunday to personally deliver Tehran’s “message of support” to the Syrian leader. In a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Araghchi denounced the rebel offensive as part of an “Israeli-US plan to destabilize the region,” according to state media.
“I am going to Damascus to convey the message of the Islamic Republic to the Syrian government. We will firmly support the Syrian government and army against the terrorists and their backers.”
– Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Assad Vows to Defend Syria’s “Stability and Territorial Integrity”
Faced with the most serious challenge to his authority in years, President Assad struck a defiant tone. In a written statement, he pledged to “defend Syria’s stability and territorial integrity in the face of all terrorists and their backers.” The Syrian leader has long labeled opposition forces as “terrorists,” a term he applies to all armed groups fighting to topple his regime.
Assad’s grip on power had seemed increasingly secure after over a decade of civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions more. With the help of Russia and Iran, his forces clawed back much of the territory once held by rebels. But this week’s events show the conflict is far from over. Aleppo, once the country’s economic powerhouse, bears the scars of years of heavy fighting and bombardment.
Key Facts About Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
- Jihadist group that dominates rebel-held parts of northwest Syria
- Formerly an al-Qaeda affiliate, distanced itself from the network in 2016
- Designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and Turkey
- Controls the city of Idlib and surrounding areas, home to over 3 million people
- Has clashed with both government forces and other rebel factions
The Battle for Aleppo: A Pivotal Moment
The rebel capture of Aleppo marks a stunning reversal of fortune for Assad’s forces, which had held the city since retaking it from insurgents in late 2016 after months of heavy fighting and aerial bombardment that left much of eastern Aleppo in ruins. Regaining control of this strategic and symbolic prize will likely be the government’s top priority.
For the rebels, seizing Aleppo provides a major morale boost and a potential launchpad for further offensives in the north. But maintaining control of the city in the face of the expected government counter-attack, backed by Russian airpower, will be a daunting challenge. Observers warn that any attempt to wrest Aleppo back from rebel hands risks causing immense human suffering in an area already ravaged by years of war.
The coming days will likely see a ferocious battle for control of this key city, with far-reaching implications for the future trajectory of Syria’s long and bloody conflict. As regional and global powers watch developments closely, Aleppo once again finds itself at the heart of a pivotal moment in Syria’s civil war.
