Anti-Assad forces advance to Aleppo’s doorstep after fierce battles

Armed groups opposing the Assad regime in Syria have advanced to within one kilometre of Aleppo’s outskirts following intense clashes that erupted in the western Aleppo province early on November 28.

Over the course of two days, anti-regime militias have seized control of approximately 400 square kilometres across Aleppo and Idlib provinces, capturing 56 localities, Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media.

Fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni radical group formerly associated with al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, and their allied factions have made significant advances, particularly near the New Aleppo neighbourhood on the city’s edge. Al-Qaeda is recognised as a terrorist organisation in many countries.

Reports indicate that the advancing groups have taken control of weapons depots, armoured vehicles, and strategic positions. They have also blocked the M5 motorway, a critical route connecting Aleppo to Damascus.

The clashes have resulted in significant losses on both sides, with over 180 fatalities reported, including 121 militants and 61 Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers. Civilian casualties have also been recorded amid the intensified fighting.

In a parallel development, the Nairab airbase, located east of Aleppo, came under attack by anti-regime forces.

Syrian and Russian warplanes launched a series of airstrikes targeting militant-controlled areas in northwestern Syria. Over 40 air raids, accompanied by hundreds of artillery and rocket strikes, were carried out in an attempt to stall the offensive. Notably, the Syrian Air Force’s involvement in these operations marks its first use in combat after years of limited action.

This offensive is reportedly the largest by anti-Assad forces since March 2020, a period when a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia and Türkiye had temporarily quelled hostilities. The renewed violence underscores the fragility of that truce.

In the midst of these developments, a senior Iranian military adviser, Brigadier General Kioumars Pourhashemi, was reportedly killed in the fighting, reflecting the high stakes for regional players involved in the Syrian conflict.

As the situation unfolds, reports suggest that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has travelled to Moscow, with expectations of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This meeting could signal strategic discussions on bolstering support for the Syrian government in response to the escalating conflict.

Syrian state sources described the clashes as a “large-scale terrorist attack” involving substantial militant forces equipped with heavy weaponry. The government claims to be repelling the assault with significant losses inflicted on the attackers.

By Tamilla Hasanova