In brief
In a surprising advance, anti-government rebels have captured most of Aleppo, triggering escalated military responses from the regime and allied forces.
Antigovernment rebels launched a surprise offensive in Aleppo, Syria's largest city, quickly taking control of most of the urban center with minimal opposition from government forces as of early Saturday. According to reports from both rebel entities and a recognized war monitoring body, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the violence marks the most significant escalation in the region since 2016, when forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad expelled rebels after a protracted and bloody battle.In response to the rebel advance, Syrian government warplanes have resumed airstrikes on Aleppo neighborhoods for the first time in years, signaling a dramatic shift in their military tactics. Concurrently, Russian military forces have also conducted airstrikes in areas around Aleppo and Idlib, though it's not clear if these strikes targeted the newly claimed rebel areas within the city.The rapid takeover, occurring within just four days of the offensive that began on Wednesday, poses a serious challenge to al-Assad’s regime and marks a revival of conflict in a civil war that had entered a relatively dormant phase. Reports indicate that key government officials and security forces have retreated from the city center, further underscoring the shift in control.Eyewitness accounts and social media posts from rebels and returnees highlight their presence in now-reclaimed areas, juxtaposing their return with fragments of the city’s once-familiar landscape. Among prominent landmarks, visuals emerged of the ancient citadel, previously a stronghold for government forces. Contrarily, Syrian state media has downplayed the situation, asserting that the military has captured “terrorists” attempting to stage control over multiple neighborhoods, representing a consistent narrative since the uprising began, branding all opposition as terrorist factions.The rebel forces’ success in Aleppo, if confirmed, could drastically alter the dynamics of the ongoing conflict, raising concerns over an intensification of violence and the humanitarian impact on the civilian populous. As developments unfold, both domestic and international observers are closely watching the reactions and potential countermeasures from the Assad regime and its allies.
