Syrian Islamic insurgent groups enter Aleppo city

ALLEPO,— For the first time since 2016, pro-Turkey Syrian Islamic mercenary militants have entered Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, triggering violent clashes with Syria’s Assad government forces.

The surprise attack, which began Friday, has left dozens dead on both sides and forced residents to flee, according to witnesses and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The attack comes amid a volatile regional backdrop of ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, alongside Syria’s protracted civil war, which began in 2011.

Islamic insurgent militants, which are backed by Turkey, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group [former Al-Nusra Front], launched their offensive on Wednesday, sweeping through villages and towns in northwestern Syria.

By Friday, they had advanced to Aleppo’s outskirts, triggering widespread panic as missiles and gunfire intensified near residential areas.

The recent offensive stands out as one of the most significant operations undertaken by opposition forces in recent years. The attack coincided with the Syrian government’s apparent inability to mount a robust defense, raising questions about its military capabilities.

Robert Ford, the former U.S. ambassador to Syria, described the regime’s forces as alarmingly fragile, noting that in some instances, they seemed on the verge of complete collapse.

The insurgents’ rapid gains highlight the declining influence of key allies supporting Syria’s government, including Russia and Iran.

Both nations are reportedly preoccupied with other conflicts—Russia in Ukraine and Iran in Lebanon and Gaza—leaving the Assad regime vulnerable. Hezbollah, a critical Iranian-backed ally, has also been focused on its battles with Israel, further straining resources.

Experts suggest the timing of the attack was strategic. Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group, noted that while opposition forces had signaled readiness for such a move, the swift collapse of government defenses caught many by surprise.

The regime finds itself increasingly exposed, as its primary allies are preoccupied with pressing conflicts elsewhere. Yet, the speed at which the insurgents progressed caught everyone off guard,” she said.

The offensive comes after weeks of mounting tensions, marked by government strikes targeting areas controlled by opposition forces. Turkey, which backs Syrian mercenary groups, had unsuccessfully tried to prevent the violence through diplomatic channels.

Turkish officials claim the insurgents’ initial objective was to reclaim a de-escalation zone established under a 2019 agreement brokered by Turkey, Russia, and Iran. The offensive rapidly escalated as Syrian government forces withdrew from their positions.

The Syrian military, meanwhile, claimed on Friday that it had destroyed insurgent weaponry and clashed with opposition forces in Aleppo’s countryside. The government accused the insurgents of spreading false information about their advances and vowed to repel the attack.

State media also reported casualties from projectiles fired by insurgents, including four deaths at Aleppo University.

The conflict has reignited fears of broader instability in the region. Insurgents have reportedly seized heavy weapons, military vehicles, and even drones, which they used to attack a military airbase southeast of Aleppo, destroying a helicopter.

Videos posted online suggest the insurgents are employing advanced tactics, further complicating the government’s ability to respond.

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported that opposition forces now control around 70 locations across Aleppo and Idlib provinces, with some fighters entering Aleppo’s city center.

Government authorities have diverted traffic from critical highways linking Aleppo to Damascus and the coast as insurgents gained control of strategic points, including the town of Saraqeb.

The Kremlin condemned the attack, describing it as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and calling for the swift restoration of constitutional order. Iranian officials, meanwhile, blamed the insurgent offensive on a supposed U.S.-Israeli plot, linking it to recent defeats of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

As Aleppo braces for further violence, the battle underscores the enduring fragility of Syria’s peace efforts. The rapid deterioration of government defenses and the insurgents’ bold tactics may signal a turning point in the conflict, threatening to unravel years of military gains by the Assad regime and its allies.

(With files from AP)