Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo in lightning attack as Islamist militia claims to control entire province
30 November 2024, 10:02 | Updated: 30 November 2024, 22:13
Syrian rebels have taken over around half of Aleppo, and claim to have taken over an entire province, as government troops were forced to retreat.
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The forces opposed to Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad have claimed to reach the centre of the north-western city, which is around 220 miles north of the capital Damascus.
They also said they have taken over the whole of the Idlib governorate, a province to the south-west of Aleppo, as well as the Aleppo airport.
The airport of Aleppo, which has a population of 2 million and several major roads around the city have been closed. Videos appear to show the group has taken over the airport.
The rebels are led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham.
The sweeping attack by the rebels this week was a surprise. They have seized several towns and villages along the way.
The attack has allowed the rebel forces to reach Syria's second-largest city eight years after being forced out by government troops.
Syrian government forces have been backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the rebels blew up two car bombs at the city's western edge on Friday.
An insurgent commander issued a recorded message posted on social media calling on the city's residents to co-operate with the advancing forces.
The Turkey state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the opposition insurgents entered Aleppo city centre on Friday, but offered no further details.
Syria's state media reported earlier on Friday that projectiles from insurgents landed in the student accommodation area at Aleppo's university in the city centre, killing four people, including two students.
Public transportation to the city had also been diverted from the main road linking Aleppo to the capital Damascus to avoid clashes, state-controlled media reported.
Residents in Aleppo reported hearing sounds of missiles on the city's outskirts.
Fighters also advanced on the town of Saraqab, in the north-western province of Idlib, a strategic area that would secure supply lines to Aleppo.
This week's advances are the most intense fighting in north-western Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by opposition fighters.
Syria's armed forces said the insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement that de-escalated fighting in the area, which has been the last remaining opposition stronghold for years.
State media reported air strikes on the insurgents' positions in Aleppo and the Idlib countryside.
The war monitor observatory said dozens of fighters from both sides have been killed in the battles that started on Wednesday.
The insurgents have seized control of more than 50 villages in their advance, which seems to have caught the government forces unprepared.
