The situation in the Aleppo region of Syria continues to be a source of concern, as thousands of insurgents have launched an offensive towards the city, seizing several towns and villages along the way. The advance comes as Iranian-linked groups, which have supported Syrian government forces since 2015, are preoccupied with the broader conflict in Lebanon and Gaza.
Insurgents have announced the liberation of several areas such as Mezanat, Dedraya, Kafr Halab, Sheikh Ali, and other nearby areas where Iranian and Assad militias were stationed and shelling civilians. Testimonies from residents displaced by the conflict, such as Abdelmajid al-Khatib of Kafr Halab, express a mixture of pain and relief. Forced to flee his village due to the relentless bombing, he emotionally describes the return to his liberated city as an indescribable joy for him and the residents.
Fighters have managed to enter Aleppo, after detonating two car bombs, and are clashing with government forces on the outskirts of the city. This is the first attack by opposition forces since 2016, when they were driven out of eastern Aleppo following an intense military campaign by government forces backed by Russia, Iran and their allies.
Residents of Aleppo report scenes of mass displacement in the western districts of the city due to the exchanges of fire and bombing. The Syrian armed forces say they are engaged in clashes with the insurgents in the surroundings of Aleppo and Idlib, destroying several enemy drones and heavy weaponry. They vow to repel the attack and accuse the insurgents of spreading false information about their advances.
The situation is all the more critical as Hezbollah, the main actor in an Iranian-backed alliance in Syria, has been engaged in a conflict with Israel since September. Despite the announcement of a ceasefire last Wednesday, tensions persist, with Israel intensifying its attacks against Hezbollah and Iranian-linked targets in Syria for the past seventy days.
In this complex and constantly evolving context, the Aleppo region remains the scene of violent clashes that risk having destabilizing repercussions on a regional scale. Political, military and humanitarian issues are intertwined in a conflict with multiple dimensions, while the civilian population continues to suffer the tragic consequences of this devastating war.