Syrian Insurgents breach Aleppo, sparking intense clashes and regional uncertainty

Insurgents launched a surprise attack on Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, on Friday, breaching its defenses for the first time since 2016. The assault, which began with a sweeping offensive across the country’s northwestern countryside, has led to fierce clashes with government forces and the displacement of residents.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that dozens of fighters from both sides have been killed in the ongoing violence. Residents near Aleppo’s edge fled amidst heavy missile fire and gunshots. Witness accounts described chaotic scenes as neighborhoods came under threat.

This attack marks the first major incursion into Aleppo by opposition forces since government troops, backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, reclaimed the city in 2016 after a prolonged siege.

Reports indicate that government forces struggled to mount a significant defense, with insurgents quickly advancing and urging troops to surrender through social media. Robert Ford, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria, described the regime’s forces as “extremely weak” and in some areas “almost routed.”

The offensive is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a prominent opposition group, and is the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020.

The attack adds another layer of instability to a region already grappling with multiple conflicts, including wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Analysts suggest that government forces and their allies, including Hezbollah, are stretched thin, with resources diverted to other battles.

“It’s not just Russia being bogged down in Ukraine or Hezbollah in Lebanon,” said Dareen Khalifa of the International Crisis Group. “The regime itself is cornered, and this offensive has caught everyone off guard with its speed and intensity.”

Turkey, which supports Syrian opposition factions, stated that the offensive was initially intended to reclaim a de-escalation zone outlined in a 2019 agreement with Russia and Iran. However, as government forces retreated, the operation expanded.

Syrian state media reported insurgent missile attacks on Aleppo University’s student housing, killing four people, including two students. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that opposition fighters detonated car bombs at Aleppo’s western edge and captured the strategic town of Saraqeb, a key junction connecting Aleppo with Damascus and the coast.

Insurgents have also reportedly deployed drones, a new tactic in their arsenal, targeting a military airbase southeast of Aleppo and destroying a government helicopter.

The Syrian government accused the insurgents of violating the 2019 agreement and spreading false claims about their advances. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the attack a breach of Syria’s sovereignty and reiterated Russia’s support for restoring constitutional order in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi labeled the insurgent attack as a U.S.-orchestrated plot, designed to exploit regional vulnerabilities following conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza.

As insurgent forces consolidate their gains, Aleppo remains on edge. Videos shared online show opposition fighters capturing military vehicles and heavy weapons. Turkish media claimed that insurgents now control dozens of locations across Aleppo and Idlib provinces.

The battle for Aleppo, once a pivotal city in Syria’s civil war, has reignited with fresh intensity, underscoring the enduring volatility of the region.