Jihadist-led rebels have captured Aleppo’s airport and numerous surrounding towns after taking control of most of Syria’s second-largest city, according to a war monitor.
In response, Syria’s ally Russia conducted its first air strikes on Aleppo since 2016, as the jihadists and their Turkish-backed partners launched a rapid offensive that started on Wednesday, coinciding with a ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon.
During a phone call with his Emirati counterpart, President Bashar al-Assad pledged to defeat the “terrorists” regardless of the magnitude of their assaults.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 327 fatalities, primarily among combatants, but also including 44 civilians, as reported by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The jihadists also captured Aleppo Airport following the withdrawal of government forces and took over “dozens of strategic towns without encountering resistance,” the monitor noted.
Additionally, the Observatory indicated that the military had retreated from Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city, situated about 140 km south of Aleppo, amid the rebel advancement.
Rebel fighters implemented a curfew to ensure the safety of local residents.
However, a military source quoted by state media refuted claims of an army withdrawal, asserting that troops remain in their positions ahead of the rebels.
In central Aleppo, an AFP photographer observed rebel fighters positioned outside the city’s historic citadel.
The army acknowledged that the rebels had taken control of “large sections” of the city, which has a population of approximately two million, and reported that “dozens of our armed forces members were killed and others injured.”
HTS, a jihadist coalition led by Al-Qaeda’s former Syrian faction, has long governed a rebel enclave in the northwest Idlib region.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Observatory, informed AFP that “currently, it seems the Syrian regime has been deserted by its principal allies Iran and Russia, with Russia until now conducting only symbolic strikes.”
The Observatory noted that Russia executed air strikes in parts of Aleppo overnight.
Later, “at least 16 civilians were killed and 20 others wounded” due to fresh bombings.
Rebel forces announced a curfew effective until 5 pm (3 pm Irish time) today to ensure the safety of residents.
France urged all parties to safeguard civilians, while the United States suggested that Mr. Assad’s reliance on Russia and Iran had set the stage for the loss of Aleppo.
According to National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett, Syria’s “dependence on Russia and Iran,” coupled with its unwillingness to advance a 2015 peace initiative proposed by the UN Security Council, “has created the current situation.”
Fighters were observed posing with a rebel flag featuring a prominent portrait of Bashar al-Assad.
Rebels were seen displaying a flag outside a police station adorned with a large image of Mr. Assad, standing beneath a partially burned billboard featuring the president.
The Syrian army stated that the rebels initiated “a widespread assault from multiple fronts on the Aleppo and Idlib lines.”
As the conflict continued for a fourth day, the Observatory reported that the government had lost 100 troops and militia members, while rebel losses numbered 183.
It further indicated that the rebels had captured numerous towns across the north, including Maaret al-Numan and Khan Sheikhun.
Gunfire
The pro-government radio station Sham FM reported that “armed groups were located in various streets and neighborhoods in Aleppo.”
“Most civilians are choosing to remain indoors, while public and private establishments in the city are nearly entirely closed,” the station added.
The Observatory reported that “the governor of Aleppo and commanders from the police and security branches have retreated from the city center.”
Some rebel fighters discharged celebratory gunfire as they entered the city center.
Images captured showed a rebel flag hanging from a traffic light in the city center, where some fighters were celebrating.
The western regions of Aleppo had been under rebel governance until 2016, when a siege by the army compelled a negotiated evacuation.
‘Extreme concern’
Russia, whose air support played a vital role in shifting the conflict in favor of the government, together with Iran, expressed “extreme concern” regarding their ally’s losses.
The Russian foreign ministry stated that “strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic was reaffirmed” following a communication between Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
Tehran indicated that Mr. Araghchi would be traveling to Syria today for discussions concerning the rebel offensive, which had seen the Iranian consulate in Aleppo come under fire.
Since 2020, the Idlib rebel enclave has been under a truce brokered by Turkey and Russia, which had largely been maintained despite occasional violations.
The Iranian minister is also set to conduct consultations in Ankara, according to his ministry.
Mr. Lavrov contacted his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan and emphasized the necessity to “coordinate joint efforts to stabilize the situation.”
Ankara had issued a statement on Friday urging an end to Russia’s retaliatory bombings within the rebel enclave.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke with Mr. Assad and remarked that “Syria’s security and stability… play a vital role in regional security.”
