Amid intense clashes in Aleppo, Syrian forces engage in operations against Takfiri militants

According to reports from local media on Saturday, the Syrian military, supported by Russian air forces, initiated counterstrikes targeting terrorist locations near the outskirts of Aleppo and in the eastern rural areas of Idlib.

Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen television network has reported, citing Syrian sources, that a “cautious calm” has settled over Aleppo’s frontlines following the incursion of Takfiri militants into the city’s western neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Syrian warplanes continue their aerial operations against the insurgents.

According to reports from a local television network, armed insurgent groups have extended their control over approximately 60% of Aleppo’s territory. These groups have enforced a curfew on residents within the regions under their control until further notice is given. In response, the Syrian army has repositioned its forces towards Aleppo airport in a strategic move aimed at safeguarding the city from potential devastation.

According to Al-Mayadeen, inhabitants of Nubl and Zahraa in Aleppo’s northern countryside have evacuated the towns following the approach of foreign-supported militant groups.

On Friday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its associated militant groups made significant advances into parts of Aleppo, capturing territories such as al-Hamdaniyah, al-Furqan, and al-Zahraa, following intense clashes that lasted two days, as reported by local sources. In response, Syrian forces swiftly initiated counter-offensives to regain control over the seized areas.

The UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), has reported that Russian fighter jets have conducted airstrikes on parts of Aleppo city, marking the first such intervention since 2016, with the intention of halting terrorist advancements.

According to reports from state media, an assault by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on a student housing facility in Aleppo resulted in the deaths of four civilians.

In a series of coordinated airstrikes last month, Russian and Syrian aircraft launched assaults on positions held by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group in the rural areas of Idlib and Latakia, Syria. The operations targeted training facilities, storage warehouses, and an underground tunnel located near the town of Benin in the Jabal al-Zawiya region.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously identified as the Nusra Front, is designated as a terrorist organization by Syria, Russia, and multiple other nations.

Since March 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a conflict characterized by foreign-backed insurgency. The government in Damascus has accused Western nations and their regional partners of supporting militant factions, contributing to widespread chaos in the nation.

The renewed surge of Takfiri terrorism in Aleppo has unfolded shortly after Israel agreed to a ceasefire in its conflict with Lebanon, where Hezbollah mounted strong resistance against Israeli forces attempting to seize strategically significant areas in the southern region of the country.

Israeli aircraft conducted airstrikes on targets located along the Syria-Lebanon border, according to a statement from the Israeli military on Saturday. This action comes as a test to the recently established ceasefire, which had brought an end to prolonged hostilities just days ago.