Syrian insurgents enter Aleppo after nearly decade in surprise offensive

CAIRO – 29 November 2024: Syrian insurgents have launched a surprise offensive, breaching Aleppo a few days into their unexpected move, marking their first incursion into the country's second largest city since government forces reclaimed it in 2016.

The insurgents swiftly advanced through villages surrounding Aleppo, reigniting conflict that had remained stagnant for years.

The recent offensive, commencing on Wednesday, signifies a significant escalation between the Syrian opposition and President Bashar Al-Assad.

The insurgents, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham announced the capture of the Syrian government's Military Scientific Research Center on the city's outskirts following intense clashes with government forces.

The conflict in northwestern Syria over the past three days has resulted in the deaths of 27 civilians, including eight children, said a UN official on Friday, in some of the most severe violence witnessed in years between Syrian government troops and insurgents.

Insurgents infiltrated a dozen towns and villages in Aleppo's northwestern province under President Assad's control.

The Syrian military reported inflicting heavy losses on the insurgents in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib.

The Kremlin condemned the rebel attack as a breach of Syria's sovereignty, urging swift action by authorities to regain control.

This assault marks the most significant since March 2020, following a de-escalation deal brokered by Russia and Turkey.

Reports emerged of Russian and Syrian airstrikes near the Turkish border on Thursday, aimed at repelling the insurgent advance that has captured territory not seen in years, Reuters quoted Syrian army and insurgent sources as saying.