Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, army closes airport and roads

The Syrian army reported on Saturday that dozens of its soldiers were killed in a significant attack by rebels who seized control of parts of Aleppo, marking the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years.

The assault, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has reignited fighting in a region near the Turkish border that had seen little action since 2020. The army announced it was preparing a counteroffensive to reclaim control.

Acknowledging the rebel push, the Syrian army confirmed that insurgents had entered large portions of Aleppo, which had been under full state control since Assad’s forces, supported by Russia and Iran, expelled the rebels eight years ago.

Footage from Aleppo showed rebel fighters gathering in Saadallah al-Jabiri Square after entering the city overnight, with an Assad billboard in the background.

Ali Jumbaa, a rebel fighter, was filmed expressing his joy at returning to Aleppo after being displaced in 2016: “I am the son of Aleppo, and it’s an indescribable feeling.”

The Syrian military stated that insurgents launched the attack from multiple directions, prompting a redeployment of forces to strengthen defense lines, protect civilians, and prepare for a counteroffensive.

Bombardments reportedly halted the insurgents from establishing permanent positions, with the army vowing to expel them and restore state control over Aleppo and its surrounding areas.

Rebel sources claimed the insurgents also captured Maraat al-Numan in Idlib province, giving them full control of the region, which would be another significant blow to Assad’s forces. The assault came from rebel-held areas in northwestern Syria that remain outside of Assad’s control.

On Saturday, Russian and Syrian warplanes reportedly targeted insurgents in an Aleppo suburb. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the attack as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty, emphasizing Moscow’s support for the Syrian government’s efforts to restore order.

The Syrian Civil Defense, operating in opposition-held areas, claimed that Syrian and Russian airstrikes targeted residential areas, a gas station, and a school in rebel-controlled Idlib, killing four civilians and injuring six.

Russian military aid is expected to arrive in Syria within 72 hours, while authorities have closed Aleppo’s airport and key roads to the city. The Syrian army has been instructed to carry out a “safe withdrawal” from areas of Aleppo that rebels have entered.