Syrian rebel forces have launched a major offensive on Aleppo, once Syria’s thriving commercial hub, marking the first serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in years and risking further destabilization of an already volatile Middle East. fragile, reports show. NDTV.
Aleppo, located about 350 km north of the capital Damascus, has been a crucial battleground in the Syrian civil war. Before the conflict, Aleppo was one of the largest cities in Syria, with a population of about 2.3 million.
In 2012, rebel forces took control of the eastern half of the city, turning it into a stronghold of the uprising against President Assad. However, the balance of power changed in 2016, when the forces of the Syrian government, supported by a brutal air campaign by Russiatook over the city.
The siege of Aleppo has become a symbol of the brutality of the Russian-backed Assad regime: indiscriminate bombing, starvation tactics and massive displacement of the population. Assad’s recapture of Aleppo strengthened his control over strategic territories, supported by his allies Moscow and Tehran.
The rebel offensive targets the areas around Aleppo and has advanced to its outskirts, where the rebels they managed to get in on Friday. If they manage to break through the government forces’ defenses, it could jeopardize the Assad regime’s control over a country already deeply affected by the crisis and reignite intense urban fighting.
Who is leading the attack on Aleppo?
The main force behind the attack on the city is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that was formerly affiliated with al-Qaida, but which has tried to reinvent itself over the years, claiming that it is now focused on government and military strategy opposition-controlled territories.
Although the United States and the United Nations continue to classify HTS as a terrorist organization, its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has tried to distance the group from its extremist origins.
HTS’ transformations include initiatives to promote civil rule in the areas it controls and limited attempts to reach out to religious minorities. However, the group remains controversial, being accused of harboring extremist elements and tolerating militant activities in its territories.
HTS is backed by several Turkish-backed factions that operate under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army. These groups have had a complicated relationship, often fighting each other despite the common goal of removing Assad from power.
What is the purpose of the rebel offensive in Syria?
In a video statement announcing the military campaign, Colonel Hassan Abdulghany of the rebel forces described the operation as a “defensive necessity”.
“To return fire on our people, this operation is not a choice. It is mandatory to defend our people and our land,” he said, quoted by The New York Times. “It has become clear to everyone that the regime militias and their allies, including Iranian mercenaries, have declared an open war against the Syrian people,” he added.
Beyond propaganda statements, the rebels’ immediate goals include ending airstrikes on civilian areas, recapturing lost territory, and disrupting critical supply routes for U.S. forces. the government.
So far, their progress has been rapid, capturing several villages, strategic highway intersections and military bases in Aleppo province.
How has Bashar al-Assad’s army responded so far?
Despite the rebels’ rapid advance, Syrian state media reported fierce resistance from government forces, claiming they had inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents. The Syrian army, backed by the Russian air force that remains in the country, has launched intense airstrikes on opposition areas, including the cities of Idlib and Atareb. The civilian death toll has risen, and rescue groups such as the White Helmets have reported dozens of deaths.
Iran, a key ally of Assad, also suffered losses in the offensive launched by the rebels. Among the victims was a high-ranking commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The Assad family, which belongs to a minority Shiite branch, has long relied on an alliance with Iran to stay in power. This alliance has proven particularly beneficial since 2011, when President Assad first faced an uprising against his government.
After Syria was thrown into chaos in 2011, Iran was accused of providing around 80,000 fighters to support Assad’s army, while Russia provided air support and mercenaries.
New fighting in an already raging Middle East
The rebel offensive comes at a time when Iran and its allies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, are embroiled in other conflicts. Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza has put a major strain on its resources. It is unlikely to be able to provide substantial support, even if Israel and Hezbollah they announced a truce this week
At the same time, the fire of Russia the war in Ukraine limits their ability to provide significant additional support in Syria.
Turkey, a key player in Syria, supports some of the rebel factions involved in the offensive. Israel continues its airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria in an attempt to disrupt arms shipments to its “proxy” allies. These dynamics create a volatile mix of overlapping conflicts.
Although the Assad regime controls about 70 percent of the Syrian territory, this control is largely dependent on the support of external allies such as Russia and Iran.
The offensive now also risks re-igniting wider conflicts in Syria. The Islamic State group, although largely defeated, still operates in the region through sleeper cells. A loosening of government control could create opportunities for these terrorist groups to reorganize and expand their activities.
The renewed fighting has devastating consequences for Syrian civilians, especially in opposition areas. The International Rescue Committee estimates that nearly 7,000 families have recently been displaced.
Northwestern Syria is home to about 4 million people, most of whom have already been displaced several times during the civil war. Many of these live in overcrowded refugee camps with limited access to food, water and medical care. The reactivation of the conflict threatens to worsen these conditions and trigger a new wave of mass displacements.
