Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad aimed to gather support from his allies on Sunday following a surprising rebel attack that caused government forces to lose control of Aleppo for the first time since the civil war began.
A rebel group, dominated by Islamist factions, launched an attack on Wednesday against the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. This happened on the same day a fragile ceasefire was implemented in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah after two months of intense conflict.
The militant group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), along with allied factions, now controls most of Aleppo except for neighborhoods held by Kurdish forces, according to Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. “For the first time since the civil war began over a decade ago, Aleppo is no longer under the control of the Syrian regime,” he added.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Damascus on Sunday to meet with Assad, stating that Tehran would “firmly support the Syrian government and army.” Assad stressed the need for support from allies to face “foreign-backed terrorist attacks.”
Earlier that day, Syrian and Russian airstrikes targeted rebel areas, killing at least 12 people in Aleppo and nine civilians in Idlib, according to the Observatory.
Russia confirmed its military involvement, stating that its forces were assisting Syria in repelling “terrorist aggression” in the provinces of Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo. The airstrikes reportedly targeted rebel leaders and large groups of fighters, killing dozens, as per Syrian state news agency SANA.
In Idlib, the aftermath of strikes showed destroyed vehicles and bodies in a hospital. A resident, Umm Mohamed, shared that her daughter-in-law was killed, leaving behind five children, one of whom was injured but survived.
Aleppo has been a strategic city for both sides. In 2016, the Syrian army, backed by Russian airpower, reclaimed parts of Aleppo from rebels. However, the city now seems to be slipping away. Analysts suggest that without substantial support from Russia and Iran, the government may not regain control.
The Observatory reported that rebel advances encountered minimal resistance and that dozens of towns, including Khan Sheikhun and Maaret Al-Nu’man, were captured. The army has since bolstered its positions in Hama and sent reinforcements north.
The HTS, an Al-Qaeda-linked group, already held large areas in the Idlib region and parts of Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia provinces. The recent fighting has claimed over 412 lives, including 61 civilians, according to the Observatory.
Parallel to the HTS offensive, pro-Turkey factions attacked Kurdish forces in Aleppo province, seizing the strategic town of Tal Rifaat. UN envoy Geir Pedersen warned that the latest developments endanger civilians and could escalate regional and international tensions.
