Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria’s second city of Aleppo on Friday, as they launched a lightning offensive against the forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fighters took control of “half of the city of Aleppo” as regime forces withdrew.
The offensive began on Wednesday, coinciding with the initiation of a fragile ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Fierce fighting ensued, resulting in 277 fatalities, including 28 civilians, with most casualties attributed to Russian air strikes. By Friday, the jihadists and their allies had captured more than 50 towns and villages in northern Syria and made incursions into western districts of Aleppo, which has a population of approximately two million people and was a key manufacturing hub prior to the civil war.
Rami Abdel Rahman, the Observatory’s director, reported that the fighters swiftly captured half of Aleppo with little resistance, stating that no shots were fired during the regime’s withdrawal. Evidence from an AFP correspondent indicated clashes in the New Aleppo district, while Syrian state media reported civilian deaths from shelling carried out by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist coalition led by a faction formerly associated with Al-Qaeda.
The Syrian military has deployed reinforcements to Aleppo, as one security official requested anonymity to address sensitive information. An earlier military statement claimed that troops had repelled the assault and regained some positions. The jihadists also made significant advances in Northern Syria, including capturing the strategically important town of Saraqib, which lies on the road to Aleppo.
In a separate development, Syrian and Russian warplanes executed intense air strikes on Friday against the rebel enclave in Idlib, where the jihadists are primarily based. The Syrian Observatory reported that 23 air raids occurred during this operation. The Russian military affirmed that the bombings targeted “extremist” forces.
Turkey has called for an end to the bombardment, claiming that recent clashes have heightened tensions in the region. The Idlib area has been subject to a truce brokered by Turkey and Russia since 2020, which has seen repeated violations but had largely been maintained. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that over 14,000 individuals, nearly half of whom are children, have been displaced due to the ongoing violence.
Residents of Aleppo expressed fear regarding the potential for renewed conflict and the possibility of displacement. The jihadists and their allies severed the highway connecting Aleppo to the capital, Damascus, approximately 300 kilometers (185 miles) to the south. Local shopkeeper Nasser Hamdo voiced concerns that blockades could lead to soaring fuel prices and hamper the delivery of goods to the city.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized the situation in Aleppo as “an infringement on the sovereignty of Syria” and reasserted support for the Syrian government in efforts to restore order. Tehran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Iran’s commitment to support the Syrian government during a telephone conversation with his counterpart, Bassam al-Sabbagh.
Analysts suggest that the fighters, organized under a joint operations command, may have aimed to preempt a potential Syrian military campaign in Aleppo. Nick Heras of the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy noted that the Syrian government and Russia had been preparing for such an offensive.
Moreover, Iranian-backed militias have maintained a significant presence in the Aleppo region since providing vital ground support during the government’s recapture of rebel-held territories in 2016. Observers such as Abdel Rahman opined that the government forces appeared “totally unprepared” for the outbreak of hostilities, questioning reliance on Hezbollah, which is currently engaged in Lebanon.
