Syrian Troops Withdraw From Aleppo As Rebels Advance

Syrian government forces have withdrawn from Aleppo following a major rebel offensive, marking a significant escalation in the country’s civil war.

The army admitted that rebels now control “large parts” of Syria’s second-largest city and pledged a counteroffensive. The ongoing clashes, which began Wednesday, have already claimed over 300 lives, including at least 20 civilians, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

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President Bashar al-Assad vowed to “defend Syria’s stability and territorial integrity” against what he called “terrorists and their backers.” In a statement on Saturday, Assad asserted that with the support of allies, the government would “defeat and eliminate” such threats.

The Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011 and has left approximately half a million dead, had largely quieted since a 2020 ceasefire. However, opposition forces maintained control over the northwestern city of Idlib and its surrounding province, just 55km (34 miles) from Aleppo.

The recent offensive, spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—an Islamist militant group—and allied factions backed by Turkey, has brought intense fighting back to the forefront. HTS, already dominant in Idlib, is considered one of the most effective and deadly forces opposing Assad’s rule.

Rebels have reportedly seized Aleppo’s airport and numerous nearby towns. The SOHR also noted their advance into towns near Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city, south of Aleppo. Rebel forces announced an overnight curfew, starting at 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Saturday.

The Syrian army described the offensive as a “broad attack from multiple axes on the Aleppo and Idlib fronts,” spanning a front line exceeding 100km (60 miles). It confirmed significant casualties among its forces.

The Russian air force, a key ally of Assad, conducted its first strikes on Aleppo since assisting in the city’s recapture in 2016. Later on Saturday, Russian jets carried out nine additional airstrikes on Idlib, according to SOHR.

The involvement of Russian forces signals a renewed effort to support Assad’s government as it faces a critical challenge.

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Images and reports from Aleppo showed congested roads as civilians fled the city amid rising plumes of smoke. The rapid deterioration of security has sparked fears of another large-scale humanitarian crisis.

A U.S. spokesperson criticized Syria’s dependence on Russia and Iran while blaming the Assad government for failing to advance the 2015 UN Security Council peace plan.

The fall of Aleppo to rebel forces not only undermines the Syrian government’s control but also underscores the fragile nature of the country’s ceasefire, reigniting the horrors of a conflict thought to have entered a quieter phase.

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