ALEPPO, Syria. Rebel forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) stormed Aleppo on Saturday, marking the most significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s government in years. The offensive has resulted in heavy casualties among Syrian army forces and forced a redeployment of troops.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed its air force had carried out strikes in support of Assad’s forces, targeting rebel positions in Aleppo and nearby Idlib. “Missile and bomb strikes were directed at militant concentrations, command posts, depots, and artillery positions,” stated the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Enemy Parties, which claimed the strikes killed approximately 300 rebels.
The HTS-led assault captured key areas in Aleppo, including the city’s airport, and extended their control to Maraat al-Numan in Idlib province. Rebel fighters celebrated their advance, with images showing them posing on a toppled statue of Bassil al-Assad and waving opposition flags near Aleppo’s historic citadel.
“I am a son of Aleppo and was displaced from it eight years ago, in 2016. Thank God we just returned. It is an indescribable feeling,” said Ali Jumaa, a rebel fighter, in televised remarks.
Syrian army officials acknowledged the setbacks, stating, “Our armed forces carried out a redeployment operation aimed at strengthening defense lines to absorb the attack, preserve civilian lives, and regroup troops.”
The rebel offensive underscores the entangled geopolitics of Syria’s conflict. Russia and Iran back Assad’s government, while Turkey supports certain rebel factions in the northwest. This escalation comes amidst ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon, further destabilizing the region.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan discussed the crisis over a phone call, agreeing on coordinating actions to stabilize the situation. Meanwhile, Iran alleged the rebel attacks were part of an Israeli-U.S. strategy to foment instability in the region.
The White House National Security Council distanced itself from the offensive, calling it the work of “a designated terrorist organization.” NSC spokesperson Sean Savett stated, “Syria’s refusal to engage in a political process and its reliance on Russia and Iran have created the conditions now unfolding.”
As airstrikes intensified, the Syrian Civil Defense, operating in opposition-held Idlib, reported that four civilians were killed and six injured in residential areas. Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a Jaish al-Izza rebel group commander, attributed the rebels’ swift gains to a lack of Iran-backed manpower in Aleppo.
The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), allied with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, also expanded their control in Aleppo as government forces retreated.
The situation remains volatile with Russian reinforcements expected in the next 72 hours. The rebel campaign, they claimed, was a response to intensified airstrikes by Russian and Syrian forces on civilian areas in Idlib in recent weeks.
As fighting rages in northwest Syria, the fragile balance in the Middle East faces yet another severe test, with the ripple effects of this offensive potentially reshaping alliances and strategies in the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
