A ferocious offensive by jihadist groups and their Turkish-backed allies has plunged Syria’s second-largest city, Aleppo, into a bloody conflict, marking one of the deadliest escalations in years. The lightning-fast attack, launched on Wednesday, has resulted in the deaths of at least 255 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor. While the majority of casualties are combatants, a devastating 24 civilians have also perished, many victims of Russian airstrikes. The scale of the assault underscores a significant shift in the Syrian conflict’s power dynamics.
By Friday, the jihadists, primarily from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – an al-Qaeda-linked group – and their allied factions, had captured more than 50 towns and villages to the north of Aleppo. This represents a significant territorial loss for the Syrian government, the largest in years, and a major blow to their forces. The offensive extended into western Aleppo, a densely populated city of approximately two million people that served as a pre-war manufacturing hub. The advance involved twin suicide car bomb attacks, which allowed HTS and its allies to breach the outskirts of Al-Hamdaniya and New Aleppo neighborhoods.
The intensity of the fighting is undeniable. HTS shelled a student residence, killing four civilians, while Syrian and Russian warplanes retaliated with a barrage of 23 airstrikes on the rebel-held Idlib region, the jihadists’ base. The Syrian army, reinforced with fresh troops, claims to have repelled the assault and retaken some lost positions. However, the speed and success of the initial jihadist push raises concerns about the preparedness of government forces.
The humanitarian crisis unfolding is equally alarming. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that over 14,000 people, almost half of them children, have been displaced by the violence. Aleppo residents describe a terrifying reality, recounting the constant sounds of shelling and expressing deep fear of further displacement. The strategic cutting of the Aleppo-Damascus highway by jihadists further exacerbates the situation, raising concerns about soaring fuel prices and shortages of essential goods.
The Kremlin’s response has been swift, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemning the offensive as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and voicing support for the Syrian government to restore order. Iran, another key ally of the Syrian regime, has also pledged its continued support to the Syrian government and army. This demonstrates the deep entanglements of regional powers in the ongoing Syrian conflict.
Analysts suggest that the jihadist offensive may be a preemptive strike, designed to thwart a potential Syrian military campaign in the Aleppo region. The Syrian government, backed by Russia and Iran, had reportedly been preparing for such a campaign. The offensive’s success highlights a significant disparity in preparedness and capacity between the anti-government forces and the Syrian government’s forces, with the latter perhaps hampered by the involvement of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The ongoing situation in Aleppo is a complex and volatile one, highlighting the continuing instability in Syria and the profound implications of the conflict for regional security and international relations. The scale of the offensive and the humanitarian fallout serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of the ongoing war.
