Syrian authorities have closed Aleppo’s airport and all roads leading into the city, military sources confirmed on Saturday, as opposition forces claimed they had reached the heart of Aleppo for the first time since their expulsion in 2016.
The offensive, spearheaded by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The rebels rapidly advanced through government-held towns in the region this week, taking advantage of reduced Iranian-backed forces in Aleppo province. Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade, attributed the swift progress to a shortage of manpower among Iran-aligned militias, weakened by recent Israeli strikes amid the broader tensions stemming from the Gaza conflict.
Opposition sources with ties to Turkish intelligence indicated that Turkey, a supporter of the rebel factions, had approved the operation. However, Turkey’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Oncu Keceli, reiterated Ankara’s stance against actions that could destabilize the region further. He noted that recent escalations undermine existing de-escalation agreements, such as the 2020 Russia-Turkey deal to mitigate the Syrian conflict.
The offensive has already resulted in significant civilian casualties. U.N. Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, David Carden, expressed alarm at the rising toll, stating, “Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as 8 years old.”
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that four civilians, including two students, were killed on Friday when insurgent shelling struck university dormitories in Aleppo. It remains unclear whether these fatalities are part of the U.N.’s reported civilian death toll.
Syrian state television has denied rebel claims of reaching Aleppo, asserting that government forces, supported by Russian airstrikes, are countering the attack. The Syrian military announced it had inflicted heavy losses on insurgents in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the rebel offensive, calling it a violation of Syria’s sovereignty. “We are in favour of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible,” Peskov stated.
The escalation comes in response to intensified strikes on rebel-held Idlib by Russian and Syrian forces, according to opposition leaders. They claim their actions are preemptive to prevent a large-scale Syrian army assault.
The situation in northwest Syria remains volatile, with no immediate resolution in sight. The closure of Aleppo’s airport and main access routes underscores the growing severity of the crisis, as fears mount over its potential impact on an already dire humanitarian situation in the region.