Syrian rebels have reached the outskirts of the major city of Aleppo, raising concerns that the long-standing civil war is intensifying. Reports indicate that government forces, supported by Russian allies, launched a series of airstrikes on opposition-held territories, notably hitting the city of Idlib.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitoring group based in the UK, reported that at least 23 attacks were conducted on Idlib. The Russian government confirmed its military operations against Syrian rebels but did not provide specific details on locations.
Rebel sources reported minimal resistance from government forces during their offensive, which began on Wednesday, marking the most significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad's regime in years.
This offensive raises questions about the rebels potentially exploiting vulnerabilities within the Iranian-led alliance, which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, the rebels claimed they had been preparing for this operation for months.
Iran has historically provided military and financial support to Hezbollah and the Assad regime throughout the civil war. Nevertheless, recent conflicts with Israel have weakened these groups, particularly following a cease-fire that ended 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, while confrontations with Hamas in Gaza continue.
Israel has targeted Iranian positions in Syria for months, focusing on commanders and weapons transfers to Hezbollah. Concurrently, Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict has diverted attention from Syria.
Experts noted that the recent developments highlight the ongoing volatility of the Syrian conflict. Mohammed Alaa Ghanem from the Syrian American Council emphasized the vulnerabilities of Assad's regime and its lack of legitimacy.
Since the onset of the civil war in 2011, approximately half of Syria's population has been displaced, leading to millions of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries and beyond. The rebel offensive in Aleppo signals a return to violence reminiscent of the civil war's early days.
In the past three days, rebels have claimed to have captured several towns and military bases, urging government soldiers to defect. Recent clashes have reportedly resulted in over 250 combatant casualties, including more than 140 rebels and 87 government soldiers and Iran-backed fighters.
Rebels posted evacuation warnings for civilians in Aleppo, advising them to move to safer eastern neighborhoods. Syrian state media countered these claims, stating that government forces successfully repelled the rebel advance, though these assertions remain unverified.
The White Helmets, a first-responder organization, reported civilian casualties due to the government airstrikes on Friday. The participating rebel factions include Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously linked to Al Qaeda, and various Turkish-backed groups.
While the conflict has largely been stagnant, periodic clashes continue, with opposition-held areas frequently targeted by government forces. Rebels stated their assault aims to halt these ongoing airstrikes.
In a video statement, Lt. Col. Hassan Abdulghany, a military commander of the opposition, declared that the attack was a necessary response to protect the Syrian people and their land against regime forces and their Iranian allies.