The insurgent forces led by The jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) and its allies have consolidated their control over more than half of the city of Aleppoas reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH).
This advance occurs after a massive offensive that met no major resistance by the government forces of the regime Bashar Al Assad.
Among the strategic places taken by the rebels are the Great Mosque of Aleppothe historic citadel and the emblematic square Saadalá to the Yabriconsidered the heart of the city, according to media coverage Al Jazeera.
The insurgent attack, started on Wednesdaycame after weeks of intense bombing in southern Idlib on the part of Syria y Russiaas well as the deployment of government troops near the front lines.
According to the director of OSDH, Rami Abdel Rahmanrebel forces managed to enter neighborhoods in the west and southwest of Aleppo. “The combatants took control of five neighborhoods and the regime forces did not put up much resistance”he explained Abdul Rahman.
A decisive factor in the raid was the use of two car bombs, detonated on Friday at the western edge of townwhich allowed the insurgents to make their way into urban areas.
Faced with this situation, the Syrian authorities have decreed a curfew in Aleppo to be extended until Saturday morning. According to the Department of Military Operations of Syriathis measure seeks to “protect the city, deploy security forces and eliminate the remains of war.”
The chain Syria TV released an official statement underlining the need to secure the area while surveillance and control operations continue.
This rebel advance is the first of such magnitude in Aleppo since 2016when the forces of Bashar Al Assadsupported by Russia, Iran and allied militias, managed to expel the insurgents from the eastern neighborhoods of the city after months of fighting.
Now, the retaliatory airstrike launched by the regime and its Russian allies is focused on rebel positions in Idlibconsidered one of the last opposition bastions in Syria.
In recent days, thousands of insurgent fighters have advanced toward Aleppo from different rural locationstaking several villages and towns on its way. This advance seems to be part of a surprise strategy, according to the information released by the OSDH.
During the offensive, an insurgent commander issued a message on social media urging city residents to collaborate with the advancing forces.
However, the situation in Aleppo remains volatile. He OSDHwhich operates from the United Kingdombut it has an extensive network of informants in Syriawarned that fighting in the western and southwestern areas could intensify in the coming hours.
The progress on Aleppo not only marks a milestone in the Syrian conflictbut also highlights the growing tensions around Idlib. This province, controlled mostly by opposition forces, has been the subject of constant air attacks and military maneuvers by the regime and its allies.
(With information from AFP, AP and EP)
