Aleppo, Syria – Syrian armed rebels launched a surprise offensive in Aleppo, marking the first time they have entered the country’s second largest city since government forces regained control in 2016. The rebel forces swiftly advanced into several villages surrounding the city, reigniting a long-standing conflict that had remained relatively dormant for years.
In a video footage captured in western Aleppo, a rebel fighter drove through deserted streets towards the Zine El Abidine Mosque, expressing gratitude to God for their progress. While the Syrian military acknowledged facing a “major attack” and reinforcing various battlefronts, residents reported regime forces withdrawing from neighborhoods in the western part of the city.
The surprise offensive initiated on Wednesday signifies the first major confrontation in years between the Syrian opposition and President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which has governed the war-torn country since 2000. The newly formed rebel coalition, the Military Operations Command, declared that their forces had successfully entered Aleppo.
Throughout Friday, the rebels continued to advance further into the city, capturing key locations from the Syrian government’s control. An artillery shell struck Aleppo University’s student housing complex, resulting in four fatalities – an incident blamed on opposition factions by the state news agency. Meanwhile, civilian casualties were reported in airstrikes and shelling on rebel-held areas in Aleppo and Idlib countryside.
The escalation in violence prompted the Iranian government to accuse the United States and Israel of supporting the rebels, underscoring their unwavering allegiance to Assad’s regime. In response, Syrian authorities conducted airstrikes in Idlib, one of the last remaining opposition strongholds, resulting in casualties and destruction in residential areas.
As the conflict in Syria continues to unfold, the devastation and loss of life persist, with millions of civilians displaced and hundreds of thousands killed. The complex dynamics of the civil war involve various regional and international actors, intensifying the proxy war that has ravaged the country for more than a decade. The situation remains fluid, with developments expected to unfold in the coming days.
This ongoing conflict underscores the deep-rooted challenges facing Syria and its people, as they grapple with the devastating consequences of war and political unrest. The implications of the recent offensive in Aleppo further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis gripping the region, underscoring the urgent need for diplomatic solutions and international intervention to bring an end to the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.