BEIRUT — Thousands of insurgents in Syria continued their offensive against government-held territories in the northwestern region, making significant progress on the periphery of Aleppo, the nation’s second-largest city. Reports from activists and fighters indicate that they have taken control of several key towns and villages along their path as of Friday.
State-run media in Syria noted that projectiles fired by the rebels struck student housing at the Aleppo university, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including two students. To mitigate clashes, transportation services to Aleppo have been rerouted away from the main highway that connects the city to Damascus, as reported by state-controlled outlets.
In addition to their advances near Aleppo, the insurgents targeted the town of Saraqab in the northwestern province of Idlib, which holds strategic importance for securing supply routes to Aleppo.
The recent military gains represent the most significant push by opposition groups, particularly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), following weeks of escalating violence. This marks the most intense hostilities in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces reclaimed territories previously under opposition control.
The Syrian Armed Forces claim that these insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement aimed at de-escalating conflicts in the region, which has remained the last significant stronghold for opposition forces over the years. In response to these advances, state media reported airstrikes targeting rebel positions on the outskirts of Aleppo.
The insurgents have announced that they have taken control of the Scientific Research Center neighborhood, situated on the western edge of Aleppo city. This represents the first time they have approached the city since being expelled from its eastern areas in 2016, an event that marked a major turning point in the ongoing conflict.
The Syrian government, backed by Russia and Iran, had managed to reclaim all of Aleppo that year after extensive military operations and a prolonged siege.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitoring group, numerous casualties have been reported from both sides since the outbreak of the battle on Wednesday. The insurgents have captured over 50 villages in this offensive, which seems to have taken government troops by surprise.
Insurgents also shared videos showcasing their use of drones, a weapon they had not effectively employed in earlier confrontations with government forces. However, the extent of their operational effectiveness on the ground remains unclear.
Aid organizations have indicated that the ongoing clashes have led to the displacement of thousands of families and the suspension of vital services. The opposition forces have stated that their military push aims to enable the return of numerous displaced individuals who fled due to governmental bombardment in recent weeks.
This offensive coincides with a diversion of attention from Iranian-affiliated groups, who have been preoccupied with their own struggles within Iran since 2015.
Additionally, the conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah, dominant forces in the Iran-backed alliance, has intensified since September. A cease-fire was announced on Wednesday, coinciding with the insurgents’ launch of their offensive. Over the last 70 days, Israel has escalated its strikes against Hezbollah and other Iranian-linked positions in Syria.
From the outset of the anti-government protests in 2011 that transformed into a full-blown war, Russia and Iran have provided support to Syrian government forces. Simultaneously, Turkey has backed a variety of opposition factions and established a military footprint in the northwestern regions. Meanwhile, the United States has focused its support on Kurdish forces combating Islamic State militants primarily in eastern Syria.