Syrian opposition forces have captured much of Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city, in a dramatic turn of events during a surprise military offensive. Verified video footage and eyewitness accounts confirm the rebel presence in key areas of the city, marking a significant shift in the dynamics of a long-stagnant conflict.
This development represents the first time opposition forces have entered Aleppo since Syrian government troops reclaimed the city in 2016, following a brutal siege during the height of the civil war. The rebel advance, led by a coalition known as the Military Operations Command (MOC), began earlier this week. The coalition, comprising a mix of Islamist factions and moderate opposition groups, launched their campaign by sweeping through rural villages on Aleppo’s eastern outskirts. By Saturday morning, their forces had moved deep into the city.
Armed rebels waving opposition flags in central squares and near Aleppo’s ancient citadel, one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. In one video, a rebel fighter declares, “We are the first to arrive and the first to conquer,” underscoring the symbolic importance of their achievements.
The northeastern neighborhoods of Aleppo remain under the control of Syrian government forces and their Iranian militia allies. Despite this, the opposition’s gains in the rest of the city appear to have met limited resistance, a striking contrast to the intense urban battles seen in previous phases of the conflict.
Syria’s Defense Ministry acknowledged the rebel incursion but downplayed their success, asserting that government reinforcements were en route to launch a counteroffensive. A statement from the ministry claimed that the rebels had failed to “establish solid positions” in the city, though other reports suggest that opposition fighters have taken control of large areas.
In response to the rebel advance, the Russian air force launched a series of airstrikes on Friday targeting rebel positions in Aleppo and the neighboring Idlib province, which remains a stronghold of opposition forces. Russian state media reported that the strikes aimed to halt the rebel momentum, but their effectiveness remains unclear.
Adding to the complexity of Aleppo’s battlefield, Kurdish militia forces have expanded their control within the city. The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which already held two neighborhoods in Aleppo, have reportedly moved into areas previously controlled by the Syrian regime.
The YPG’s presence highlights the multi-faceted nature of Syria’s conflict. While Kurdish forces have often clashed with other rebel factions in the north, their recent actions suggest a strategic opportunism as the Assad regime faces renewed pressure.
The rebel coalition’s reemergence marks a dramatic resurgence of opposition forces, which had been largely dormant since a 2020 ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey. Lt. Colonel Hassan Abdelghani, a commander in the MOC, described the operation as a step toward “liberating our occupied territories” from what he called the “criminal regime” and its Iranian allies.
The offensive underscores the fragility of Syria’s tenuous post-war order, with renewed violence threatening to unravel years of relative calm.
The Syrian civil war, which erupted during the Arab Spring in 2011, has claimed over 300,000 civilian lives and displaced millions. What began as a pro-democracy uprising against President Bashar al-Assad evolved into a full-scale war involving a multitude of factions, including the Free Syrian Army, Islamist groups, Kurdish militias, and foreign powers.
The conflict also gave rise to ISIS, which seized large parts of Syria and Iraq before being largely defeated by an international coalition. The war’s devastation has left much of the country in ruins, with its economy shattered and its people enduring immense suffering.
The latest developments in Aleppo are likely to reverberate far beyond Syria’s borders. Regional and international powers have long been entangled in the Syrian conflict, which has often served as a proxy war for competing interests.
- Russia and Iran: Both have provided crucial support to the Assad regime, with Russian airpower and Iranian-backed militias playing decisive roles in past government victories.
- Turkey: Ankara has backed Syrian opposition groups and maintains a significant military presence in northern Syria, driven by its concerns over Kurdish militias near its border.
- The United States: Though it scaled back its involvement following the defeat of ISIS, Washington has historically supported moderate opposition groups while also partnering with Kurdish forces to combat extremists.