Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launches large-scale offensive in western Alepp as conflict in Syria intensifies
The conflict in Syria is intensifying in Aleppo. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has launched a large-scale offensive in western Aleppo, capturing 32 areas controlled by Syrian government forces. It has been reported that 75 HTS militants were killed in the clashes, with photos of these militants circulating on social media. The HTS attack began early in the morning, and the group seized villages and points in western Aleppo, including the strategic Kafr Amman village, advancing toward Aleppo city.
In response, Syrian forces and Russian airstrikes targeted HTS positions. Russian jets struck HTS bases, flying at low altitudes, and Syrian forces attempted to repel HTS assaults with artillery, suffering significant casualties. The Syrian military announced that it would collaborate with Russia and unnamed “friendly forces” to regain control of the lost territories.
HTS has advanced to within 5 kilometers of Aleppo city center and now controls an area of over 245 square kilometers. In the areas they captured, HTS seized heavy weapons and military vehicles from the Syrian army and took dozens of regime soldiers prisoner. Videos shared on HTS’s Telegram channel also showed three Russian soldiers being held captive. Around 10,000 civilians have fled the region, seeking refuge in rural Idlib.
HTS has also been using drones to drop propaganda leaflets over areas held by the Syrian army. The leaflets offered safe passage and monetary rewards to soldiers who surrender or defect.
Meanwhile, Iranian forces have also become involved in the conflict. According to Iran’s SNN news agency, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Brigadier General Kioumars Pourhashemi was killed by “Israeli-linked terrorists” during the clashes in Aleppo. It is claimed that Pourhashemi died while the HTS was launching its offensive.
Turkey is closely monitoring developments in Aleppo. Turkish security sources reported that after Syrian government forces launched attacks on the de-escalation zone in Idlib, opposition groups in northern Syria initiated a limited operation. However, as Syrian government forces withdrew from their positions, the operation expanded. It was emphasized that these operations remained within the boundaries of the Idlib de-escalation zone, which was agreed upon by Turkey, Russia, and Iran in 2019.
As the clashes in Aleppo intensify, the humanitarian crisis in the region is worsening. The mutual attacks between the Syrian government and HTS continue, while displacement and migration by the civilian population are ongoing.
