BEIRUT — In a significant escalation of conflict, Syrian government forces confronted insurgents within Aleppo, the nation’s biggest city, marking the first combat of this nature since 2016, as reported by state media on Saturday. Military aircraft targeted rebel supply routes on the outskirts of the city, heightening tensions further.
On Friday, the insurgents successfully breached government defenses in Aleppo and managed to penetrate the city’s western neighborhoods with minimal opposition. This offensive began on Wednesday and quickly saw the insurgents seize control of numerous villages and towns in both Aleppo and the Idlib region, capturing a key town situated to the south of Aleppo in the process.
According to the pro-government newspaper Al-Watan, airstrikes were directed at the periphery of Aleppo, striking locations used by insurgents to gather supplies. Their report included footage showing missiles hitting a gathering of combatants and vehicles in a tree-lined thoroughfare.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors developments in the ongoing civil war, indicated that twenty fighters had lost their lives due to these airstrikes targeting rebel reinforcements. Reports from Aleppo residents detailed clashes and gunfire, while many locals sought refuge from the violence.
As violence escalated, schools and government offices were shuttered on Saturday, prompting most residents to remain indoors, as per Sham FM radio’s report, which is known for its pro-government stance. However, bakeries remained operational to serve the public’s needs.
Images shared on social media depicted insurgents near the Aleppo citadel, a historical palace located in the old city, recognized as one of the most significant in the world. In videos captured on mobile phones, the insurgents were seen engaging with local residents, attempting to assure them that they posed no threat.
State media reported that some “terrorists,” including sleeper cells, managed to infiltrate various districts of the city. In response, government troops acted swiftly to pursue and apprehend some individuals who were photographed near notable city landmarks, as noted by state agencies.
During a morning broadcast on state television, analysts expressed confidence that military reinforcements coupled with Russian support would successfully combat the “terrorist groups,” while attributing blame for the insurgent advance to Turkey’s backing of the opposition.
Russian state news agency Tass quoted Oleg Ignasyuk from the Russian Defense Ministry, stating that Russian warplanes had targeted and eliminated 200 militants who initiated the offensive in northwestern Syria on Friday, though details were scarce.
Since being ousted from eastern Aleppo neighborhoods in 2016, the opposition forces had not attacked the city. That prior conflict was supported by Russian, Iranian, and allied forces, culminating in a significant defeat for the insurgents.
This latest offensive followed weeks of rising tensions and low-level violence, which included government attacks against opposition-controlled territories. Turkey’s diplomatic attempts to restrain Syrian government strikes were unsuccessful, prompting concerns over violations of a 2019 agreement involving Russia, Turkey, and Iran aimed at diffusing hostility in the region.
Simultaneously, Iranian-backed factions, notably Hezbollah from Lebanon, have been largely focused on their own domestic conflicts since 2015. A ceasefire involving Hezbollah’s recently concluded two-month conflict with Israel coincided with the insurgents’ announcement of their assault on the same day. Over the past two months, Israel has intensified its military actions against Hezbollah and Iranian-linked sites within Syrian territory.
Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported that insurgent players now control extensive regions across Aleppo and its surrounding Idlib countryside.
The pivotal battle for Aleppo in 2016 changed the dynamics of the conflict that initially erupted following protests against President Bashar Assad in 2011, ultimately evolving into a civil war. The combined efforts of Russia, Iran, and allied forces were instrumental in helping the Syrian government regain dominance over the city that year, following a prolonged and arduous military campaign.
