"A blow to the era": The militant group that attacked the Syrian city of Aleppo, a former al-Qaeda ally.
Sebastian UsherAheda, BBC NewsAleppo’s New Crisis The Rise of a Former al-Qaeda Ally
Rebel forces in Syria have captured a “majority” of the country’s second city of Aleppo.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Russia carried out its first airstrikes on Aleppo since 2016 on Saturday evening.
The Syrian Observatory said more than 300 people, including 20 civilians, have been killed in fighting in the country since Wednesday.
President Bashar al-Assad’s forces drove rebels out of Aleppo in 2016 and there have been no major attacks since.
The Syrian army confirmed on Saturday that rebels had entered “large parts” of the city, killing and wounding dozens of soldiers.
Military sources in Syria told Reuters that all roads leading to the airport and into the city had been closed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels had entered “most areas of the city” without encountering any major resistance. A spokesman for the organization told the BBC that there had been no fighting in the area because Syrian government forces had withdrawn.
“The city council, police stations and intelligence offices are all closed. This has never happened before.”
On Friday, the Syrian army said it had retaken control of parts of Aleppo and Idlib from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied groups.
A channel affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham also posted a video on social media showing rebel vehicles in Aleppo.
BBC Verify confirmed that the video was filmed in the western suburbs of Aleppo.
More than half a million people have been killed in the civil war that began in 2011 after pro-democracy protests in the country.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russia carried out 23 airstrikes in Aleppo on Friday.
At that time, opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, including jihadist groups, had taken advantage of the civil war and seized large parts of the country.
However, the Syrian government later regained control of almost all areas with the help of Russia, Iran and other allies.
Idlib was the only area controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Turkish-backed fighters also have a presence in some areas of the province.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Russia carried out 23 airstrikes in Aleppo on Friday.
According to Russian news agencies, Russia says it has struck “extremist forces” in Syria.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia will continue to support “the government in maintaining peace in Syria.”
In 2016, the leader of the Nusra Front, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, severed ties with al-Qaeda.
Rebel forces in Syria have captured a “majority” of the country’s second city of Aleppo.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Russia carried out its first airstrikes on Aleppo since 2016 on Saturday evening.
The Syrian Observatory said more than 300 people, including 20 civilians, have been killed in fighting in the country since Wednesday.
President Bashar al-Assad’s forces drove rebels out of Aleppo in 2016 and there have been no major attacks since.
The Syrian army confirmed on Saturday that rebels had entered “large parts” of the city, killing and wounding dozens of soldiers.
Military sources in Syria told Reuters that all roads leading to the airport and into the city had been closed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels had entered “most areas of the city” without encountering any major resistance. A spokesman for the organization told the BBC that there had been no fighting in the area because Syrian government forces had withdrawn.
“The city council, police stations and intelligence offices are all closed. This has never happened before.”
On Friday, the Syrian army said it had retaken control of parts of Aleppo and Idlib from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied groups.
A channel affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham also posted a video on social media showing rebel vehicles in Aleppo.
BBC Verify confirmed that the video was filmed in the western suburbs of Aleppo.
More than half a million people have been killed in the civil war that began in 2011 after pro-democracy protests in the country.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russia carried out 23 airstrikes in Aleppo on Friday.
At that time, opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, including jihadist groups, had taken advantage of the civil war and seized large parts of the country.
However, the Syrian government later regained control of almost all areas with the help of Russia, Iran and other allies.
Idlib was the only area controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Turkish-backed fighters also have a presence in some areas of the province.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Russia carried out 23 airstrikes in Aleppo on Friday.
According to Russian news agencies, Russia says it has struck “extremist forces” in Syria.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia will continue to support “the government in maintaining peace in Syria.”
In 2016, the leader of the Nusra Front, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, severed ties with al-Qaeda.
Who are the rebels attacking Aleppo?
The latest attacks on the city of Aleppo have been led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which has long been involved in the Syrian conflict.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham emerged in 2011 under the name of Jabhat al-Nusra, which was a group affiliated with al-Qaeda.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of the so-called Islamic State, also played a role in forming the group.
The group was considered the most dangerous opponent of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
In 2016, the leader of the Nusra Front, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, severed ties with al-Qaeda and dissolved the organization, forming an alliance with other groups to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
After breaking ties with al-Qaeda, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s goal is not to establish a caliphate in the world, but to establish a fundamentalist religious government in Syria.
‘Iran dealt a blow’
For the past four years, it seemed as if the war in Syria was over and President Bashar al-Assad’s government had succeeded in establishing control over large parts of the country.
Behind Bashar al-Assad’s victory was the military power of the Russian air force and key ally Iran.
On the other hand, Iran is not ready to accept that control of Aleppo has passed from the hands of the Syrian government.
According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani said that false rumors of the ‘terrorist occupation’ of Aleppo are being spread by the ‘cyber army’.
Mojtaba Amani said, ‘Now the Syrian government is strong and the Russian government is also determined to defend Syria. The resistance front and Iran will continue to support the Syrian government and its people.’
The Russian air force and the military power of its main ally Iran were also behind Bashar al-Assad’s victory.
On the other hand, the Arab media is calling the advance of rebel fighters in Aleppo a ‘setback for Iran’.
Prominent Saudi writer Mishary al-Thidi told the Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that the advance of the rebels in Syria is a ‘setback’ for Russia and the Syrian government, as well as for Iran.
He believes that the recent fighting in Aleppo and other areas is the result of the intervention of Iran and other foreign powers in Syria.
Another Arab newspaper, Al-Arab, gave the headline of an article about Syria something like this: ‘After five years of peace, Aleppo will prove to be a difficult test for Bashar al-Assad.’
The article also says that ‘You will have to choose who you stand with.’
According to the article, Western powers should ask Bashar al-Assad whether he will continue to support Iran.
The article also states that there appears to be a plan behind the latest attack in Aleppo, as rebel groups are now looking to take advantage of the "weakness" of Iran and its proxy groups.
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#Syria #Iran #Al_Qaeda #Russia
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