In a significant escalation, insurgents have breached Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, igniting fierce clashes with government forces on the western edge. This marks the first breach by opposition forces since their 2016 expulsion from the city after a devastating military campaign supported by Russia, Iran, and allied groups.
Witnesses report that residents are fleeing western neighborhoods due to ongoing missile exchanges and gunfire. Meanwhile, the Syrian government has not commented on the incursion. However, Syria’s Armed Forces issued a statement asserting that they are engaged in combat with insurgents around Aleppo and Idlib, having destroyed several drones and heavy weapons. The military vows to repel the attack, accusing insurgents of disseminating misinformation about their progress.
As insurgents push towards Aleppo, thousands have advanced since launching a surprise offensive on Wednesday, capturing numerous towns and villages. The offensive coincides with Iran-linked groups, crucial supporters of Syrian government forces since 2015, being preoccupied with domestic battles.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that insurgents detonated two car bombs on Aleppo’s western outskirts on Friday. An unnamed insurgent commander urged local cooperation through social media. Furthermore, Turkey’s state-run agency reported that insurgents infiltrated Aleppo’s core, breaching regime defenses along key axes. The report states they now control approximately 70 sites in Aleppo and Idlib.
In a conflicting account, Syria’s state media indicated that projectiles landed within Aleppo University’s student housing, resulting in four fatalities, including two students. Transportation has been rerouted from the main highway to Damascus to avoid confrontation areas. Additionally, insurgents have moved towards Saraqab in Idlib, aiming to secure vital supply routes to Aleppo. This is part of the most intense regional fighting since 2020, when government forces recaptured opposition territories.
The Armed Forces accused insurgents of violating a 2019 de-escalation agreement, with the Observatory reporting numerous causalities since hostilities began on Wednesday. The insurgents have captured over 50 villages, catching government defenses off guard. Hezbollah, a key ally of the Syrian government, is distracted by escalating conflict with Israel. A ceasefire was reached just as the insurgents initiated their offensive, with Israel intensifying strikes on Hezbollah and Iran-backed targets in Syria.
The insurgents claim to have seized the Scientific Research Center neighborhood, approximately 4 kilometers from Aleppo’s outskirts, though government-aligned media disputes this. Uncomfirmed insurgent videos depict drone usage, a new tactic in their conflict with government forces. Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reports drone strikes on a military airbase nearby, allegedly destroying a helicopter. During their advance, opposition groups claim to have captured heavy weapons and equipment. Humanitarian organizations report thousands of displaced families and suspended services. The insurgents express that their operation aims to facilitate the return of families displaced by recent bombings.
The offensive signals a fresh wave of turmoil in northern Syria, challenging government positions and altering region dynamics. As fighting continues, the humanitarian impact grows with thousands displaced, highlighting the conflict’s enduring and destabilizing presence.
Source: APNews
