Rebel Forces In Aleppo: Updates

Rebel forces in Syria have taken control of most of Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the rebels, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have captured government centers, police stations, and intelligence offices without significant resistance.

The rebels’ advance on Aleppo is a significant challenge to the authority of the Syrian government and its ally, Russia. The city, which was once a major commercial and cultural hub, has been devastated by years of conflict.

Russian warplanes launched air strikes in parts of Aleppo for the first time since 2016, killing four civilians and injuring 19 others. The Syrian military confirmed that rebels had entered large parts of the city, and dozens of soldiers had been killed or injured in the fighting.

The rebel offensive, which began on Wednesday, has resulted in the deaths of over 300 people, including more than 20 civilians. The UN’s deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, David Carden, expressed deep concern over the impact of the escalating hostilities on civilians.

“Civilians are bearing the brunt of the violence, and we are deeply concerned about the humanitarian consequences of this escalation,” Carden said. “We urge all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to take all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure.”

Analysts believe that the rebels were able to advance quickly due to the weakening of Syria’s allies, Iran and Hezbollah, by Israeli attacks in the region. The Syrian government, with the help of Russia and other allies, had previously retaken most of the areas lost to rebels.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the rebels had taken control of several towns and villages in Aleppo and Idlib provinces since Wednesday. The group also reported that Russian warplanes had carried out dozens of air strikes in the region, targeting rebel positions and killing dozens of fighters.

The conflict in Syria has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions. The country has been devastated by years of fighting, and the humanitarian situation remains dire.

The international community has been working to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but so far, no agreement has been reached. The situation on the ground remains volatile, and the humanitarian consequences of the conflict continue to worsen.

In a statement, the Syrian military said that it had withdrawn its troops from Aleppo temporarily to prepare a counteroffensive. The statement also said that the military would not hesitate to take all necessary measures to restore stability and security to the city.

The rebels, on the other hand, have vowed to continue their fight against the Syrian government. In a statement, the HTS said that its fighters would not stop until they had liberated all of Syria from the government’s control.

The situation in Aleppo remains tense, and the humanitarian consequences of the conflict continue to worsen. The international community is urging all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to take all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure.