Insurgents on Friday launched a significant offensive on Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, sparking the first major attack on the city by opposition forces since 2016, per a Syrian war monitor. The assault began with two car bombs on Aleppo's western edge and has prompted intense clashes with government forces, who claim to have destroyed several insurgent drones and heavy weapons. Thousands of insurgents, reportedly led by the opposition faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have advanced since Wednesday, capturing about 70 positions across Aleppo and Idlib provinces.
The renewed fighting has displaced thousands of families and disrupted public services in the region. Syrian government forces, meanwhile, accuse insurgents of violating a 2019 de-escalation agreement. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported that opposition fighters breached defenses, advancing rapidly and even seizing military assets such as helicopters. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted the use of drones by insurgents, a new development in the conflict.
The offensive coincides with the shifting focus of Iran-linked groups, who had supported Syrian government forces, as they deal with internal challenges at home. Hezbollah, a key ally of the Syrian government, is currently engaged in hostilities with Israel, complicating the military landscape. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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