Cars navigate through the streets of Aleppo as residents walk by, following a major rebel offensive that claimed the lives of numerous Syrian army soldiers. This incident occurred on November 30, 2024, as reported by Reuters.
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad sought to bolster support from his allies on Sunday, after a monitoring group revealed that a surprise rebel attack had led to the government losing control of Aleppo for the first time since the onset of the civil war. An Islamist-dominated rebel coalition launched an assault on Iranian- and Russian-backed government forces on Wednesday, coinciding with a fragile ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which had been engaged in two months of intense warfare.
The militant group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) and its allies now control most of Aleppo city, except for the neighborhoods held by Kurdish forces, according to Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This marks the first time in over a decade that Syria's second-largest city is outside the control of regime forces.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Damascus on Sunday to meet with Assad, affirming Tehran's unwavering support for the Syrian government and army. Following the discussions, Assad emphasized the critical role of allies and friends in countering foreign-backed terrorist attacks. Earlier, Syrian and Russian aircraft conducted deadly airstrikes in support of government forces, according to the Observatory.
Russian military confirmed its assistance in repelling terrorist aggression in the provinces of Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that warplanes targeted terrorist organization commanders and large groups of their members in Aleppo province, resulting in numerous casualties. Additionally, a large vehicle convoy carrying terrorist ammunition and equipment was destroyed in Idlib province.
In Idlib, bodies were found in a hospital and vehicles were torched in the streets, as shown in AFP images. A resident, Umm Mohamed, recounted how the strikes killed her daughter-in-law, leaving behind five children, including a wounded girl.
The Syrian army, supported by Russian air power, had recaptured rebel-held areas of Aleppo in 2016, relying on Hezbollah fighters to regain lost territories. However, Hezbollah has suffered significant losses in its conflict with Israel.
Before this offensive, HTS, led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, already controlled vast areas of the Idlib region and parts of neighboring Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia provinces. The latest fighting has resulted in over 412 deaths, including at least 61 civilians, according to the Observatory.
Rebel advances faced minimal resistance, with the army reinforcing positions around Hama and sending reinforcements to the north. Rebels have seized numerous towns across the north, including Khan Sheikhun and Maaret al-Numan.
The airstrikes in Aleppo were the first since 2016, with most locals staying indoors. Experts suggest that the regime's reliance on Russia and Iran, and its refusal to engage in the 2015 UN peace process, has contributed to the current situation.
The United States maintains troops in northeast Syria as part of an anti-jihadist coalition, while Britain's foreign ministry blames the Assad regime for the escalation. Meanwhile, pro-Turkey factions in northern Syria attacked Kurdish fighters in Aleppo province, seizing strategic towns.
UN envoy Geir Pedersen warned that the latest developments pose severe risks to civilians and have significant implications for regional and international peace and security.
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