In brief
Antigovernment rebels have reportedly captured the majority of Aleppo with minimal resistance, marking a dramatic escalation in Syria's civil conflict, prompting airstrikes from the Syrian government and its allies.
Antigovernment rebel forces have taken control of much of Aleppo, Syria's largest city, after a surprising offensive that commenced just four days ago. According to rebel fighters and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, government troops showed little resistance to the advancing rebels, significantly altering the dynamics in a conflict that had been largely static for years.For the first time since 2016, Syrian government warplanes launched airstrikes targeting neighborhoods in Aleppo, a response to the rapid territorial gains made by the rebels. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a pivotal moment in the Syrian civil war, marking a heavy defeat for opposition groups against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.In addition to airstrikes by Syrian forces, Russian military aircraft reportedly conducted operations in opposition-held areas, specifically in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. However, it remains unclear if Russian strikes directly targeted Aleppo itself.This sudden rebel offensive is viewed as the most significant challenge to al-Assad's regime in a prolonged civil war that has seen a lull in major hostilities recently. An official report from the observatory revealed that many regime officials, including the Aleppo governor, have fled the city center as the conflict transforms once more.Images and videos circulated online by rebels and returning residents showcase reconquered landmarks, including the historical citadel, previously a stronghold for al-Assad's military. In contrast, state media disputed claims of a rebel takeover, suggesting that the military had apprehended what they referred to as "terrorists," dismissing opposition fighters as a threat to national sovereignty.As the situation in Aleppo unfolds rapidly, the city’s residents are left grappling with a swift and unpredictable shift in control, indicative of the continuing turmoil within Syria as the civil war enters an uncertain new chapter.
