Aleppo: The Syrian military confirmed on Saturday that rebel forces had entered large parts of Aleppo city in a surprise offensive, resulting in the deaths of dozens of soldiers. The attack, which marks the most significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years, has forced the army to redeploy troops.
Led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, the offensive has reignited fighting in the city, a region that has seen relative calm since 2020. The fighting is taking place in a key area near Syria’s border with Turkey.
Footage from Aleppo showed rebel fighters gathered in Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, with a large poster of Assad in the background.
The Syrian army described the attack as multi-directional and in large numbers. To counter this, the military carried out a redeployment to strengthen defense lines and prevent further rebel progress. They vowed to push the insurgents out and restore control over the city and surrounding areas.
Rebel sources reported that insurgents had also captured the town of Maraat al-Numan in Idlib province, which would bring the entire province under their control, further weakening Assad’s hold on the region.
The fighting comes amid broader regional instability, with Israel’s conflict in Gaza and Lebanon adding to the tension. The attack was launched from areas in northwestern Syria that remain under rebel control.