Syrian Rebels Advance on Aleppo, Targeting Pro-Assad Forces and Iranian Influence

In a surprise operation launched earlier this week, Syrian rebel groups have rapidly advanced towards Aleppo city, marking one of the most significant offensives in years against pro-Assad forces in northwest Syria. The attack, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda offshoot, has resulted in heavy casualties and captured significant territory.

Rebels, bolstered by some Turkey-backed factions, have reportedly captured more than 50 regime-controlled villages and towns across Aleppo's outskirts and eastern Idlib. Videos circulated online show clashes in Aleppo's Rashidin neighborhood and nearby areas, underscoring the operation's rapid gains. The offensive, named "Deter the Aggression," aims to push back against pro-Assad, Iranian, and Russian attacks on Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the rebel coalition has advanced to within two kilometers of Aleppo city, challenging the Assad regime's defensive lines. SOHR reported that airstrikes, particularly by Russian forces, have targeted rebel-held territories, killing at least 24 civilians on Friday. The strikes have intensified as the rebels gained momentum, seizing strategic assets, including T-72 tanks, and capturing several regime soldiers.

Rebel forces have also disrupted critical transport routes, shutting down the M-5 highway connecting Aleppo to Damascus and moving to encircle Saraqib, a key junction for the M-4 and M-5 highways. Saraqib is also a hub for Iranian-aligned forces in Syria, further highlighting the offensive's broader aim to diminish Tehran's influence in the region. Iranian media reported the death of Brigadier General Kiumars Pourahmadi, a top military adviser in Aleppo, during the clashes.