In a sharp escalation of the Syrian war, government forces retreated from significant swaths of Aleppo after opposition rebels took over the city. The Syrian army said Saturday that insurgents had penetrated“large parts” of Aleppo, the nation‘s second-largest city. As it promised to stage a counterattack soon, the retreat marks a key juncture in the conflict.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the fighting, which started on Wednesday, has already killed over 300 people, including at least 20 civilians. The assault is the most intense violence since the 2020 ceasefire that had largely frozen the frontlines. Aleppo‘s fall to the rebels reopened old wounds as the city was a major rebel stronghold until its recapture by government forces in 2016. Idlib, a key rebel-controlled city located just 55 kilometers from Aleppo, remains a vital point in the conflict.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad responded to the developments on Sunday, vowing to defend the nation’s stability and integrity against the insurgents. “Syria, with the support of its allies, will overcome and eliminate terrorist threats, no matter how severe their attacks,” his office stated. Assad’s resolve comes as the rebel forces, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions backed by Turkey, continue their offensive.
HTS, recognised as a dominant and lethal faction among Assad’s adversaries, spearheaded the recent advances, capturing Aleppo’s airport and surrounding towns. The group enforced a curfew beginning Friday evening, extending through Sunday. Syrian forces reported a coordinated attack on multiple fronts in Aleppo and Idlib, covering a battlefront of over 100 kilometers. Dozens of Syrian soldiers have reportedly died in the clashes.
Russia, one of Assad’s main allies, resumed airstrikes in Aleppo on Saturday, marking its first operations in the city since 2016. Russian forces played a crucial role in boosting Assad during the civil war and targeted rebel positions in support of the beleaguered Syrian government. Images shared on social media include thousands of residents fleeing the city, with roads clogged as families seek safety from the escalating violence.
As battles rage on and the rebels solidify their control, Aleppo’s fall raises significant questions about Syria’s future. The conflict’s renewed intensity underscores the fragile nature of the region’s peace and the profound human cost of the prolonged war.
