Damascus: Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport and all major roads leading into the city on Saturday, according to three military sources. This comes as opposition forces, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, announced they had reached the heart of Aleppo after a surprise offensive.
The rebels launched their incursion on Wednesday, sweeping through government-held towns and advancing into Aleppo—a city they were forced to abandon nearly a decade ago after intense bombardment and siege by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and their allies.
Russian Military Aid Promised
Russia, a key ally of Assad, has pledged additional military support to counter the rebel advance. Two military sources revealed that new military hardware is expected to arrive within 72 hours. Syrian forces have reportedly been instructed to execute “safe withdrawal” operations from the areas of Aleppo now under rebel control, according to three army sources.
Rebels Return to Aleppo
This marks the first time since 2016 that opposition fighters have entered Aleppo. Back then, the city was retaken by Assad’s forces with the support of Russia, Iran, and regional Shi’ite militias after months of heavy fighting. Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade, noted that the rebels’ swift progress this week was aided by reduced Iranian-backed military presence in Aleppo province.
The broader geopolitical landscape appears to have influenced the offensive. Iran’s regional allies have faced setbacks amid the escalating Gaza conflict, weakening their capacity to support Assad’s forces.
Turkish Role and Motivation
The opposition forces have stated that the offensive was launched in retaliation to recent airstrikes targeting civilians in rebel-held Idlib, carried out by Syrian and Russian forces. The move also aimed to preempt Syrian army attacks in the region.
Opposition sources linked to Turkish intelligence claim Turkey approved the operation. However, Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli denied this, emphasizing that Turkey seeks to avoid escalating instability and uphold de-escalation agreements.
This offensive is the most significant since March 2020, when a Russia-Turkey agreement sought to reduce hostilities.
Civilian Impact
Syrian state television refuted rebel claims of entering Aleppo, asserting that Russian air support had bolstered government forces, resulting in significant rebel losses in Aleppo and Idlib’s countryside.
However, the U.N. reports dire consequences for civilians. David Carden, U.N. Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, expressed alarm over the violence, stating:
“Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as 8 years old.”
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that four civilians, including two students, were killed on Friday in Aleppo by rebel shelling targeting university dormitories.
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Kremlin Condemns Attack
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the rebel offensive as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty.
“We are in favour of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible,” Peskov said.
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