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Thousands of Syrian rebels continued on in their advance as they attack government-controlled areas of the country's northwest and they're threatening to reach Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. Meanwhile, the rebels are gaining control of several strategically important towns along the way.
Syria's state media reported that insurgents fired projectiles at the student dorms at Aleppo University, located in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Public buses and other transport to Aleppo have been rerouted from the main road connecting it to Damascus to steer clear of the fighting, according to the government's news outlets.
People living in Aleppo said they heard missiles being fired on the edges of the city.
Meanwhile, opposition fighters have pushed forward into Saraqab, a town in Idlib province to the northwest, which is crucial for controlling supply routes to Aleppo.
This week's military gains by the opposition groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), are some of the biggest in recent times after a period of relatively quiet conflict. This is the most significant fighting in northwest Syria since 2020, when government forces took back territories held by rebels. It's also the biggest push by opposition forces on Aleppo since they lost control of the city's eastern parts in 2016.
The Syrian Armed Forces stated that the insurgents are breaking a 2019 agreement that had calmed the fighting in the region, which has been the last area held by opposition forces for several years.
State media mentioned airstrikes targeting insurgents in the rural areas of Aleppo and Idlib.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group that tracks the war, reported that dozens of fighters on both sides have died since the fighting began on Wednesday. The insurgents have taken over more than 50 villages in their push forward, which appears to have surprised the government troops.
This offensive coincides with a time when Iran-linked groups, who have supported Syrian government forces since 2015, are dealing with conflicts back in Iran.
Israel and Hezbollah, the primary group in the Iran-backed coalition, have been engaged in an escalating conflict since September. A ceasefire was declared on Wednesday, the same day the Syrian opposition forces started their offensive. Over the last 70 days, Israel has ramped up its attacks on Hezbollah and other Iran-linked targets in Syria. “Hezbollah was the main force in the government’s control of the city,” said Rami Abdurrahman, the head of the Observatory, the war monitor.
The insurgents reported that fighters have taken control of the Scientific Research Center neighborhood, located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the western edge of Aleppo city. However, government-linked media claimed there are still ongoing clashes in that area, denying that the insurgents have captured it.
Insurgents posted videos online showing they were employing drones in their advance, a new tactic not seen in the earlier confrontations with government forces. It remains unclear how extensively these drones have been deployed on the battlefield.
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, reporting from Idlib, estimated that the Syrian opposition fighters have gained control over approximately 400 square kilometers in Aleppo and Idlib province, coming within one kilometer (0.6 miles) of Aleppo City.
The agency also reported that early Friday, the insurgents used drones to attack a military airbase southeast of Aleppo city, destroying a helicopter.
It said the opposition groups captured heavy weapons, depots, and military vehicles from government forces during their advance.
Aid groups stated that the fighting has displaced thousands of families, leading to the suspension of some services. The opposition fighters claimed their offensive would enable the return of thousands of displaced people who had to flee due to recent government bombardments.
The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a pivotal moment in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters since the 2011 protests against Bashar Assad’s rule escalated into full-blown conflict.
Russia and Iran, along with allied groups, aided Syrian government forces in recapturing all of Aleppo in that year, following a harsh military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks.
Turkey has been a significant supporter of various opposition forces, establishing a military presence in parts of northwestern Syria. Separately, in eastern Syria, the United States has backed Syrian Kurdish forces in their fight against Islamic State militants.
This current situation is likely to cause even more migration to Western nations.Turkey, Understand, both sides are Islamists so we should not be taking any side in this civil war.
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