According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring organization, rebel forces have seized control of the “majority” of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city.
In a significant development, Russia conducted air raids in various areas of Aleppo overnight into Saturday, marking the first such military action in the region since 2016, according to observers.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that over 300 individuals, including more than 20 civilians, have lost their lives since the offensive commenced on Wednesday.
The recent offensive marks the most significant challenge to the Syrian government in years, representing the first instance in which rebels opposing President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have made their way back to Aleppo since their expulsion by the army in 2016.
Military sources have informed Reuters news agency that Aleppo’s airport, along with all access routes into the city, has been shut down.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the rebels successfully seized control of “the majority of the city” with little opposition, as reported early on Saturday.
A spokesperson informed the BBC that there was “no fighting” during the withdrawal of Syrian regime forces.
The city council, police stations, and intelligence offices stand vacant. This event marks an unprecedented occurrence.
On Friday, government forces reported successfully reclaimed positions in several towns within the Aleppo and Idlib provinces. This development follows an offensive initiated by HTS and its allied factions earlier on Wednesday.
A video shared on a channel linked to the Islamist militant organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seemingly depicts rebel fighters maneuvering in vehicles within the city.
BBC Verify has geolocated the footage to a western suburb of Aleppo.
According to AFP, a reporter observed “anti-government fighters” positioned in front of the city’s iconic citadel on Friday.
The civil war, which ignited following a government crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011, has resulted in the deaths of over half a million individuals.
A coalition of armed factions, including jihadist elements, has capitalized on the chaos to capture significant areas of land in opposition to the Assad regime.
The Syrian government, supported by Russia and other allies, regained control over most of the territories it had previously lost.
Idlib stands as the final bastion of opposition, predominantly under the control of HTS. However, the region also hosts Turkish-backed rebel factions and Turkish military forces.
On Friday, Syrian and Russian aircraft conducted 23 air strikes in the vicinity of Idlib, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
A UK-based monitoring group, relying on a network of sources within Syria, reported that four civilians lost their lives and 19 others sustained injuries due to Russian airstrikes.
According to Russian news agencies, the military of Russia reported that it conducted bombings targeting what it described as “extremist forces.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov voiced his backing for the Syrian government in its efforts to swiftly re-establish order, asserting that the nation’s sovereignty is facing threats.
On Friday, a statement released via a channel linked to rebel groups announced, “Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo.”
Footage authenticated by the BBC captures armed individuals sprinting through a street approximately seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the historic citadel of Aleppo in the city’s heart.
A recently verified clip by the BBC depicts sizable crowds of individuals transporting luggage as they move away from a vicinity close to Aleppo University. A video has surfaced, reportedly filmed 3 kilometers from a site where media affiliated with HTS assert that rebel forces have made their way into the city.
A resident of Aleppo, Sarmad, reported to AFP that he is constantly hearing “the sounds of missiles and artillery shelling.”
“We fear that war may erupt, forcing us to leave our homes once more,” the 51-year-old expressed.
David Carden, the UN’s deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, expressed profound concern regarding the effects of the intensifying conflict on the civilian population.
“Over the last three days, continuous assaults have resulted in the deaths of at least 27 civilians, among them children as young as eight years old,” he stated.
Since 2020, hostilities in Idlib have significantly decreased following a ceasefire agreement facilitated by Turkey and Russia aimed at stopping the Syrian government’s efforts to reclaim the province.
On Wednesday, HTS and its allies announced the initiation of their offensive, stating it was aimed at “deterring aggression.” They accused the government and allied militias of escalating tensions in the region.
Experts suggest that a contributing factor to their rapid advancement is the diminished strength of Syria’s allies, Iran and Hezbollah, due to Israeli strikes in the area.
