A monitor of Syria's war reported on Saturday that rebels now control a majority of Aleppo city, marking the first time since 2016 that air strikes have been reported on parts of Syria's second city.
"Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions... took control of most of the city and government centres and prisons," said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, referring to an alliance led by Daesh's former Syria branch.
Syrian rebels have launched a rapid offensive against government forces since Wednesday, the same day a fragile ceasefire took effect in neighbouring Lebanon between Hezbollah after two months of intense conflict. Overnight, "warplanes launched raids on areas of Aleppo city for the first time since 2016," added the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria.
The death toll from the clashes has risen to 311 – 183 from HTS and allied Turkish-backed factions, 100 soldiers and pro-government forces, as well as 28 civilians. State media reported that four civilians were killed when HTS shelled a student residence in Aleppo.
Militias have a significant presence in the Aleppo region after providing crucial ground support when the Syrian army recaptured rebel-held areas of the city in 2016. The Observatory said that "the governor of Aleppo and the police and security branch commanders withdrew from the city centre". The overnight air strikes coincided with "the arrival of large (rebel) military reinforcements" to the area, the Observatory added.
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