Rebels Seize Aleppo Amidst Russian Air Strikes

Syrian rebel forces have seized control of the “majority” of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, according to the UK-based monitoring organization Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). In response, Russia initiated air strikes across sections of Aleppo overnight into Saturday, marking the first such strikes since 2016, according to the same observers. SOHR reported that over 300 individuals, among them more than 20 civilians, have died since the offensive commenced on Wednesday. This offensive represents the most significant action against the Syrian government in years and the initial instance of rebels confronting President Bashar al-Assad’s forces reaching Aleppo since the army expelled them in 2016. Syria’s military confirmed on Saturday that rebel fighters had penetrated “large parts” of the city, with dozens of soldiers either killed or injured during the clashes. A statement from the military indicated that troops were temporarily withdrawn from Aleppo “to prepare a counteroffensive.” BBC-verified footage demonstrated that rebels had advanced to the city’s ancient citadel. Military sources informed Reuters news agency that Aleppo’s airport and all access roads into the city have been shut down. The SOHR stated early on Saturday that rebels managed to seize the “majority of the city” encountering minimal resistance. A spokesperson informed the BBC that “no fighting” occurred as Syrian regime forces retreated. “The city council, police stations, intelligence offices – they are empty.” “This has never happened before”. Earlier on Friday, government forces had reported recapturing positions in several towns within Aleppo and Idlib provinces, subsequent to the offensive initiated by HTS and its allied factions on Wednesday. Footage uploaded to a channel linked with the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seemingly depicts rebel combatants in vehicles within the city. BBC Verify has confirmed the geolocation of this footage to a western suburb of Aleppo. Over half a million individuals have perished in the civil war, which began in 2011 following the government’s suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations. Various armed factions, including jihadists, opposing the Assad government exploited the unrest to capture extensive areas. The Syrian government, supported by Russia and other allies, subsequently reclaimed the majority of its lost territories. Idlib, which remains the final opposition stronghold, is predominantly under HTS control, though Turkish-backed rebel groups and Turkish military personnel are also stationed there. SOHR reported that Syrian and Russian aircraft conducted 23 air strikes near Idlib on Friday. The UK-based monitoring group, which relies on a network of sources within Syria, stated that four civilians died and 19 others sustained injuries in the Russian strikes. According to Russian news agencies, Russia’s military declared it had targeted “extremist forces.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov voiced his backing for “the government of Syria to quickly restore order” and asserted that the nation’s sovereignty was being assailed. On Friday, a statement shared on a channel linked to rebels announced: “Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo.” BBC-verified videos depict armed individuals running in a street approximately seven kilometres (4.3 miles) from Aleppo’s medieval citadel in the city’s core. A separate BBC-verified clip displayed numerous groups of people carrying luggage and departing from an area close to Aleppo University. This footage was recorded 3km from a site where HTS-affiliated media asserts rebel forces have entered the city. Sarmad, an Aleppo resident, informed AFP that he could hear “the sounds of missiles and artillery shelling around the clock.” The 51-year-old stated, “We’re scared that war will break out and we’ll be displaced from our homes again.” David Carden, the UN’s deputy regional humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, expressed profound alarm regarding the effect of the intensifying hostilities on civilians. He commented, “Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as eight years old.” Conflict in Idlib had mostly subsided since 2020, following a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia, Syria’s primary ally, to prevent a government advance to reclaim the province. However, on Wednesday, HTS and its partners declared they had initiated their offensive to “deter aggression,” alleging that the government and associated militias were escalating tensions in the area. Analysts suggest that a factor in their rapid advance is the weakening of Syria’s allies, Iran and Hezbollah, due to Israeli attacks in the region. Reporting contributed by Lina Sinjab in Beirut, and Richard Irvine-Brown, Merlyn Thomas, Sofia Ferreira Santos, and Paul Brown in London. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.