BEIRUT — On Saturday, Aleppo experienced a notable influx of Syrian insurgents traveling in vehicles outfitted with improvised armor, making their way toward significant landmarks such as the ancient citadel. This escalation came after their largely unchallenged entry into Syria’s largest city just the day before, as confirmed by local inhabitants and fighters.
Eyewitnesses reported that late Friday, two airstrikes targeted the outskirts of Aleppo, aiming at insurgent reinforcements and dangerously close to residential areas. A monitoring organization indicated that these strikes resulted in the deaths of 20 insurgent fighters.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Syria’s armed forces acknowledged that insurgents had seized control of key areas within Aleppo but asserted that they had not yet established permanent bases or checkpoints. To address this extensive offensive, the military announced a redeployment of forces in an effort to save lives and prepare for a potential counteroffensive.
Insurgents were observed outside the police headquarters and near the Aleppo Citadel, where they dismantled posters of Syrian President Bashar Assad, trampling some and setting others ablaze.
This unexpected takeover marks a considerable setback for Assad, who had successfully regained full control over Aleppo in 2016 after expelling both insurgents and numerous civilians from its eastern neighborhoods during a brutal military campaign backed by Russia, Iran, and other allied forces.
Since that time, Aleppo had remained largely free from opposition forces. The 2016 battle was a crucial turning point in the ongoing conflict that began following protests against Assad’s regime in 2011, which escalated into a full-blown war.
The recent offensive in Aleppo followed weeks of escalating minor violence, including government attacks on areas held by the opposition. Turkey, a supporter of Syrian opposition groups, was unable to halt these government offensives through diplomatic means, which were viewed as breaches of a 2019 agreement brokered by Russia, Turkey, and Iran aimed at stabilizing the region.
This military initiative coincided with Iranian-affiliated groups, particularly Hezbollah from Lebanon, facing their own domestic conflicts. A ceasefire in Hezbollah’s recent clash with Israel began on Wednesday, coinciding with the opposition factions’ declaration of their offensive. Additionally, Israel has escalated its strikes on Hezbollah and Iranian-linked targets in Syria over the past 70 days.
Insurgents raise flag over Aleppo Citadel
Witnesses noted that government forces remained at the city’s airport and a military academy, but most had retreated from the southern parts of Aleppo. Meanwhile, Syrian Kurdish forces continued to maintain their presence in two neighborhoods.
The military emphasized that this troop redeployment is a temporary measure, assuring the populace that the central command and armed forces are committed to ensuring the safety and security of the people in Aleppo.
In Saadallah Aljabri Square, opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo expressed his feelings, stating it was his first return to Aleppo in 13 years, reminiscing about the loss of his older brother when the conflict began. “With God’s help, we will free the rest of Aleppo province from government control,” he declared.
On Saturday, the city center saw light traffic, and while opposition fighters celebrated by firing shots into the air, there were no visible confrontations or signs of government troops.
Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher who left Aleppo in 2016, returned the night before after learning about the insurgents’ presence. He described his emotional turmoil, feeling both pain and nostalgia as he walked through the city. “As I entered Aleppo, I kept saying to myself, ‘This is unbelievable! How did this happen?’” He recounted his nighttime stroll around the citadel, where insurgents raised their flags, and his visits to the university and other significant sites.
“I walked through the empty streets of Aleppo, shouting, ‘People of Aleppo, we are your sons,’” Alhamdo shared in a series of messages with The Associated Press.
The insurgents launched their surprise offensive in the Aleppo and Idlib regions on Wednesday, swiftly capturing numerous villages and towns before entering Aleppo on Friday.
Pro-government media outlet Al-Watan reported airstrikes targeting rebel supply routes on the periphery of Aleppo, releasing footage of a missile striking a gathering of fighters and vehicles along a tree-lined road.
Ghaith Alsayed—AP
City hospitals are full
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that airstrikes resulted in the deaths of twenty fighters, while residents reported ongoing skirmishes and gunfire, leading many to flee from the turmoil.
On Saturday, schools and government offices remained closed, as most residents chose to stay indoors, according to reports from Sham FM, a pro-government radio station. However, bakeries continued to operate. Observers noted that insurgents had deployed security personnel throughout the city to prevent violence and looting.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced that Aleppo’s airport has been shut down, halting all flights. Reports indicated that both of the city’s main public hospitals were at full capacity, while many private medical facilities had closed, according to OCHA.
Social media depicted insurgents gathered outside the historic Aleppo Citadel, interacting with local residents and assuring them of their safety and intent to avoid causing harm.
The Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria reported that nearly 3,000 individuals, mostly students, had fled to their regions to escape the violence in Aleppo, which has a significant Kurdish population.
State media revealed that several “terrorists,” including sleeper cells, had infiltrated parts of the city. Government forces are actively seeking and apprehending those who posed for photographs near notable city landmarks, as reported by state outlets.
On a Saturday morning talk show, commentators accused Turkey of backing the insurgents’ advance into Aleppo and Idlib provinces, asserting that army reinforcements and support from Russia would be essential in countering these “terrorist groups.”
According to Russia’s state news agency Tass, Oleg Ignasyuk, a Russian Defense Ministry official overseeing operations in Syria, claimed that Russian airstrikes had targeted and eliminated 200 militants involved in the offensive in the northwest on Friday, although additional details were not provided.
