Syrian rebel groups, Assad militias clash as rebels reportedly advance toward Aleppo
Smoke rises during clashes between fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Syrian army, in the eastern outskirts of the town of Atarib in Syria's northern province of Aleppo, Nov. 27, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Syrian rebels launched a surprise attack on the Syrian army in the northern province of Aleppo on Wednesday, triggering intense clashes.
The assault was reportedly led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group controlling parts of northwestern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The attack has seen significant rebel advances, with fighting reported in multiple areas.
Both sides have suffered casualties, and there are reports that Syrian rebels have captured individuals they believe to be Russian soldiers or mercenaries fighting for President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
Aleppo, once a stronghold of the Syrian rebels, has endured heavy losses and fierce fighting over the years. Once home to millions, the city now lies in ruins, with many of its residents displaced to northern Syria or Türkiye.
Aleppo’s strategic location, hosting critical M5 and M4 roads, has made it a key point of contention throughout the conflict. These roads have long been a source of clashes and bargaining leverage in peace talks.
The Syrian conflict began in 2011 after President Assad’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests. It has since killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions, and decimated the country’s infrastructure and economy.
A monitor of Syria’s war said on Thursday that more than 130 combatants had been killed in clashes between the Syrian army and rebel groups in the country’s north, as the Syrian government also reported fierce fighting.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the toll in the clashes which began a day earlier after the Syrian rebel groups launched an attack “has risen to 132, including 65 fighters” from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, 18 from allied factions “and 49 members of the regime forces”.
