BEIRUT — On Saturday, the city of Aleppo experienced a notable influx of Syrian insurgents who arrived in vehicles fortified with improvised armor, advancing toward crucial locations such as the ancient citadel. This event followed their relatively uncontested entry into Syria’s largest city just a day earlier, as recounted by local residents and combatants.
Witnesses reported that late Friday, two airstrikes targeted insurgent reinforcements on the outskirts of Aleppo, striking perilously close to residential areas. A monitoring organization stated that these strikes resulted in the deaths of 20 fighters.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Syrian armed forces acknowledged the insurgents’ hold over significant portions of Aleppo but insisted that the militants had not yet established permanent bases or checkpoints. To address the extensive offensive, the military announced a redeployment of forces aimed at preserving life and preparing for a potential counterattack.
Insurgents were spotted near the police headquarters and close to the Aleppo Citadel, where they removed posters of Syrian President Bashar Assad, trampling some and setting others ablaze.
This unexpected takeover represents a significant blow to Assad, who had successfully regained complete control of Aleppo in 2016 after ousting insurgents and numerous civilians from its eastern districts during a brutal military campaign bolstered by Russian, Iranian, and allied forces.
Since then, Aleppo had remained free from opposition forces. The 2016 battle was a turning point in the ongoing conflict that erupted after protests against Assad’s regime in 2011, which escalated into a full-blown war.
The recent offensive in Aleppo followed several weeks of intensifying minor skirmishes, including government assaults on areas controlled by opposition groups. Turkey, which supports Syrian opposition factions, was unsuccessful in its diplomatic efforts to halt these government offensives, viewed as violations of a 2019 agreement brokered by Russia, Turkey, and Iran aimed at stabilizing the conflict.
This military campaign coincided with Iranian-affiliated groups, particularly Hezbollah from Lebanon, being preoccupied with their own domestic conflicts. A ceasefire in Hezbollah’s recent engagement with Israel was declared on Wednesday, coinciding with the opposition factions’ announcement of their offensive. Furthermore, Israel has ramped up its attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian-linked targets in Syria over the last 70 days.
Insurgents hoist flag over Aleppo Citadel
Reports indicate that government forces remained at the city airport and a military academy, but most had retreated from the southern regions of the city. Meanwhile, Syrian Kurdish forces preserved their presence in two neighborhoods.
The military stressed that this redeployment is a temporary measure, assuring that the central command and armed forces remain dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of the populace in Aleppo.
In Saadallah Aljabri Square, opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo shared his emotional experience, noting it was his first return to Aleppo in 13 years, recalling the loss of his older brother at the beginning of the conflict. “God willing, we will liberate the rest of Aleppo province from government control,” he vowed.
On Saturday, light traffic was evident in the city center, and while opposition fighters fired celebratory shots into the sky, there were no immediate signs of clashes or government troop presence.
Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher who left Aleppo in 2016, returned the previous night after hearing about the insurgents’ activities. He described a whirlwind of feelings, grappling with both pain and nostalgia as he explored the city. “As I stepped into Aleppo, I kept telling myself, ‘This is unbelievable! How did this happen?’” He recounted his nighttime stroll around the citadel, where insurgents proudly raised their flags, and his visits to the university and other significant locations.
“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 taking control of numerous villages and towns before advancing into Aleppo on Friday.
Pro-government outlet Al-Watan reported airstrikes targeting rebel supply routes on the outskirts of Aleppo, releasing footage of a missile strike hitting a gathering of fighters and vehicles along a tree-lined street.
Ghaith Alsayed—AP
Aleppo’s hospitals overwhelmed
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights corroborated that twenty fighters lost their lives in the airstrikes, while residents reported ongoing clashes and gunfire, causing some to flee the unfolding chaos.
According to reports from Sham FM, a pro-government radio outlet, schools and government offices were closed on Saturday, as most residents opted to stay indoors. However, bakeries continued to operate. Observers noted that insurgents had positioned 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. On Friday, both of the city’s main public hospitals reportedly reached capacity, while many private medical facilities had closed, according to OCHA.
Social media platforms showcased insurgents gathered outside the historic Aleppo Citadel, engaging with local residents and assuring them of their safety and a commitment to avoid causing harm.
The Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria reported that nearly 3,000 people, mainly students, fled to their regions to escape the violence in Aleppo, which has a substantial Kurdish population.
State media disclosed that several “terrorists,” including sleeper cells, had infiltrated parts of the city. Government forces are actively pursuing and apprehending those captured posing for photographs near notable city landmarks, as reported by state outlets.
During a Saturday morning talk show, commentators attributed the insurgents’ advance into Aleppo and Idlib provinces to Turkish support, insisting that army reinforcements and assistance from Russia would be vital 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 targeted and eliminated 200 militants involved in the offensive in the northwest on Friday, although further details were not disclosed.
