BEIRUT — On Saturday, Aleppo witnessed a significant surge of Syrian insurgents who mobilized in vehicles equipped with makeshift armor, heading towards key sites like the ancient citadel. This development followed their relatively unopposed entry into Syria’s largest city just a day prior, as reported by local residents and fighters.
According to witnesses, late Friday saw two airstrikes on the outskirts of Aleppo aimed at insurgent reinforcements, striking dangerously close to residential neighborhoods. A monitoring group indicated that these attacks resulted in the deaths of 20 fighters.
In a statement released Saturday, Syria’s armed forces acknowledged the insurgents’ control over significant sections of Aleppo but claimed that they had yet to establish permanent bases or checkpoints. To counter the extensive offensive, the military indicated it was redeploying forces to save lives and prepare for a possible counteroffensive.
Insurgents were seen outside the police headquarters and near the Aleppo Citadel, where they removed posters of Syrian President Bashar Assad, some of which they trampled and others they set ablaze.
This unexpected takeover is a significant setback for Assad, who had successfully regained full control of Aleppo in 2016 after expelling insurgents and countless civilians from its eastern districts during a fierce military campaign supported by Russia, Iran, and allied forces.
Since then, Aleppo has remained untouched by opposition forces. The 2016 battle marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict that erupted following protests against Assad’s regime in 2011, which evolved into a full-scale war.
The recent offensive into Aleppo came after several weeks of escalating minor violence, which included government assaults on areas held by the opposition. Turkey, a supporter of Syrian opposition groups, was unsuccessful in its diplomatic attempts to halt these government offensives, which were perceived as violations of a 2019 agreement brokered by Russia, Turkey, and Iran aimed at stabilizing the conflict.
This military push coincided with Iranian-affiliated groups, particularly Hezbollah from Lebanon, being diverted by their own conflicts at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollah’s recent conflict with Israel came into effect on Wednesday, the same day opposition factions declared their offensive. Additionally, Israel has intensified its attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian-linked targets in Syria over the past 70 days.
Insurgents raise flag over Aleppo Citadel
Witnesses reported that government forces remained stationed at the city’s airport and a military academy, but the majority had withdrawn from the southern parts of the city. Meanwhile, Syrian Kurdish forces maintained their presence in two neighborhoods.
The military emphasized that this redeployment is a temporary strategy, assuring that the central command and armed forces are committed to ensuring the security and tranquility of the people in Aleppo.
In Saadallah Aljabri Square, opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo expressed his emotions, stating it was his first return to Aleppo in 13 years, recalling the loss of his older brother at the conflict’s onset. “God willing, we will liberate the rest of Aleppo province from government control,” he declared.
On Saturday, the city center experienced light traffic, and while opposition fighters fired celebratory shots into the air, there were no visible clashes or signs of government troops.
Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher who left Aleppo in 2016, returned the previous night after learning about the insurgents’ presence. He described a whirlwind of emotions, feeling both pain and nostalgia as he wandered through the city. “As I entered Aleppo, I kept repeating to myself, ‘This is unbelievable! How did this happen?’” He recounted his nighttime stroll around the citadel, where insurgents hoisted their flags, as well as his visit to the university and other significant places.
“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 began their surprise offensive in the Aleppo and Idlib regions on Wednesday, quickly taking control of numerous villages and towns before entering 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
City hospitals are full
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that twenty fighters perished in the airstrikes, while residents reported ongoing clashes and gunfire, prompting some to flee the chaos.
On Saturday, schools and government offices were closed as most residents chose to remain indoors, according to reports from Sham FM, a pro-government radio station. Bakeries, however, continued to operate. Observers noted that insurgents had deployed security personnel throughout the city to deter violence and looting.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that Aleppo’s airport has been closed, suspending all flights. On Friday, both of the city’s main public hospitals were reportedly at capacity, while many private medical facilities had shut down, according to OCHA.
Social media showed insurgents gathered outside the historic Aleppo Citadel and interacting with local residents, assuring them of their safety and intent to avoid causing harm.
The Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria reported that nearly 3,000 individuals, predominantly students, had fled to their regions to escape the violence in Aleppo, which has a significant Kurdish demographic.
State media disclosed that several “terrorists,” including sleeper cells, had infiltrated parts of the city. Government forces are actively pursuing and apprehending those who posed for photographs near prominent city landmarks, as reported by state outlets.
On a Saturday morning talk show, commentators blamed Turkey for supporting the insurgents’ advance into Aleppo and Idlib provinces, asserting that army reinforcements and assistance from Russia would be crucial in repelling 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 killed 200 militants involved in the offensive in the northwest on Friday, although further details were not provided.
