The latest dramatic escalation of Syria's civil war has been led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is a militant group with Syrian rebels launching a surprise attack that broke into the nation's largest city - Aleppo - for the first time in nearly a decade. The lightning assault was marked on Wednesday and had formed a significant shift from the 13-year war with the threat of the renewal of violence between insurgent forces and President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
HTS fighters reportedly reached the western outskirts of Aleppo, with videos verified by The Washington Post showing rebels at key city entrances. However, the extent of their advance remains unclear. The Syrian army claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the rebels, with support from Russian airstrikes that reportedly killed over 200 militants.
This sudden offensive disrupts the relative stability Aleppo has seen since its recapture by Assad’s forces in 2016. The rebels, backed by Turkey, have framed the attack as retaliation for government assaults on civilian areas in Idlib, which displaced tens of thousands. Mohamad Bashir, the HTS-backed prime minister of Idlib’s administration, declared the operation’s aim as ending attacks and allowing displaced civilians to return.
Regional and International Repercussions
This escalation is timed with greater regional unrest, including the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon. Israeli strikes against Syria, targeting Iranian and Hezbollah operatives, have also increased, but it is unclear how much these affect the rebels' offensive.
Turkey, who backs Syrian rebels but tries to make amends with Assad, insisted on an end to the unrest in Idlib, which characterized recent government actions as violative of the Astana peace agreements. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting regarding developments in Syria and Lebanon.
Humanitarian Toll Rises
Civilians have felt the brunt of the attacks, as airstrikes and shelling continue. The Syrian state media reported deaths after rebel shelling in the Aleppo University. White Helmets documented casualties in the Idlib and western districts of Aleppo. Rebel Group Leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani called for fighters to restrain and pardon the defectors. Such statements indicate that there may be an attempt to revamp HTS into a more moderate force.
This rapid turn of events underscores the fragility of the region and raises questions as to the future trajectory of Syria's enduring civil war.
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