In a surprising move that capitalizes on the shifting geopolitical dynamics of the region, pro-Turkish Syrian rebels have entered Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, after launching a rapid offensive earlier this week.
This unexpected advance into Aleppo—a city of immense strategic and symbolic importance—has marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and has highlighted the weaknesses of Assad’s forces amidst the region’s changing alliances.
The sudden offensive, which began on Wednesday, saw opposition forces seize control of “half of Aleppo” as government troops withdrew, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The timing of the attack coincided with the enforcement of a fragile ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.
Initially, intense clashes were reported, with the British-based Observatory estimating that 277 people have been killed, including 28 civilians, many of whom died as a result of Russian airstrikes. By Friday, the rebels and their jihadist allies had captured more than 50 towns and villages in northern Syria, pushing into western Aleppo, a city that once housed two million residents and served as Syria’s industrial hub before the civil war.
Rebel forces, many of whom are closely linked to Turkey, quickly gained control of large portions of Aleppo without meeting substantial resistance. Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Observatory, told AFP early Saturday, “There were no battles, no shots fired as regime forces retreated.”
Mohamed Bashir, leader of the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has been at the forefront of the rebel offensive, stated at a press conference on Saturday, “This operation is aimed at silencing the sources of enemy fire along the front lines.”
The Syrian government and Russian air forces have responded to the advance by launching intense aerial attacks on the rebel-held enclave around Idlib, a stronghold for many jihadist factions. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there have been 23 air raids since the offensive began. Russian military officials confirmed targeting what they referred to as “extremist forces.”
“The Russian air force is conducting missile and bomb strikes on command posts, storage facilities, and artillery positions belonging to terrorists,” a spokesperson for Russia’s Defense Ministry told state news agencies.
Russian Air Force is also increasing its presence over NW. #Syria.
Last night area of Marea (N. #Aleppo) was bombed.
This morning, #RuAF struck several areas including Jisr Shoghur (SW. #Idlib – video) & the Southern Idlib countryside. pic.twitter.com/4mW7DNy64v— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) November 30, 2024
Turkey, in response, called for an end to the bombardment. “The recent clashes have led to an undesirable escalation of tension in the region,” stated the Turkish Foreign Ministry, emphasizing Ankara’s role in advocating for stability.
Since 2020, a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia has held in the Idlib region, although it has been violated repeatedly. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the situation in Aleppo as an “infringement on Syria’s sovereignty” and expressed support for “the Syrian government’s swift reestablishment of order in the region.”
Iran has also weighed in on the evolving situation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pledged continued support for the Syrian government, during a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Bassam al-Sabbagh, affirming, “We will continue to support Syria’s government, its people, and its army.”
🚨BREAKING: Syrian opposition forces/rebels have advanced into Aleppo from the west, encountering no resistance in New Aleppo—Assad’s biggest military defeat in 13 years of civil war. Syria. pic.twitter.com/dWXSyo2Hku
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) November 29, 2024
In recent days, AFP reporters have documented advancing jihadists moving on tanks amid heavy exchanges of fire just seven kilometers from Aleppo. Abandoned Syrian army tanks and military vehicles could be seen scattered across the region, while jihadist forces, backed by Turkish command, have pressed forward.
The pro-Turkish forces seem to have taken advantage of Russia’s weakened position, distracted by the prolonged and bloody war in Ukraine and the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Iran that has depleted military assets in Syria. Without direct support from Russian and Iranian forces, Assad’s weakened military appears unable to effectively counter the well-prepared and motivated rebel forces that Ankara has consistently supported in pursuit of its own regional interests.
The fall of half of Aleppo to pro-Turkish forces not only underscores the growing fragmentation of power in Syria but also illustrates the shifting sands of international influence in the region. With the Assad regime struggling and its allies overstretched, the path forward for Syria remains fraught with uncertainty, as new alliances and conflicts emerge in a region already marked by volatility and upheaval.
