Major Offensive by Rebels and Jihadists Signals Return to Violence in Northern Syria

Summary of Recent Events in Northern Syria

Rebel groups and jihadists have launched a significant offensive in Northern Syria. This marks the end of a four-year period of relative peace. Five neighborhoods in Aleppo have fallen into the hands of Turkish-backed rebel forces and the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Care’s international director, Gudrun Bertinussen, believes more neighborhoods will fall soon. She and her organization have been working on rebuilding the region after the civil war that lasted from 2011 to 2020. The current offensive complicates these efforts.

Senior researcher Hilde Henriksen Waage from PRIO suggests that rebel forces see this as an opportunity to attack while Assad’s allies are weakened.

Military reports indicate that the Russian government, a key ally of Assad, has pledged additional support, including military equipment expected to arrive within 72 hours. The Syrian government has closed the airport in Aleppo as fighting intensifies.

Images shared on social media show rebel forces advancing into Aleppo’s historic center. Multiple local media outlets report that the rebels are moving into the eastern parts of the city.

According to several sources, at least 255 people have been killed in recent clashes. David Carden, UN’s deputy humanitarian coordinator for Syria, expressed deep concern over the situation. He noted that airstrikes have significantly impacted civilians, including children. The UN estimates that 14,000 people have fled their homes due to the violence.

Bertinussen has received distressing messages from contacts in the area, highlighting the critical situation faced by civilians. Many are trying to escape and get their families to safety, but routes are becoming increasingly dangerous. She noted that the renewed conflict threatens the stability that people had begun to experience in Aleppo.

The ongoing turmoil affects daily life in the city. Rebuilding efforts face significant setbacks due to the hostilities. Hilde Henriksen Waage describes Syria as a ticking bomb, where conditions are deteriorating and the regime’s control is less secure than previously assumed.