Militants and their Turkish-backed allies launched a fierce offensive against Aleppo on Friday, triggering some of the deadliest fighting Syria has seen in years. The attack, which has killed 242 people, includes both combatants and civilians, with 24 of the fatalities caused by Russian airstrikes.
The violence comes at a sensitive time for the region, with a fragile ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in neighboring Lebanon just days old. Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011 after a brutal government crackdown on pro-democracy protests, has since drawn in multiple foreign powers and militias. More than 500,000 people have died, and millions have been displaced since the conflict began.
The offensive, launched by militants and factions backed by Turkey, marks the most significant assault on government forces in years. The fighting has already led to the capture of over 50 towns and villages in northern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In one of the latest attacks, militants shelled a student residence in government-held Aleppo, resulting in four civilian deaths.
The offensive is also strategically timed. The militants have successfully severed the crucial highway connecting Aleppo to Damascus, a vital supply route for the government. The Syrian army had regained control of this road after previous battles, but now it has been put out of service once again.
The United Nations has reported that over 14,000 people, nearly half of whom are children, have been displaced due to the escalating violence. The situation is exacerbated by the involvement of foreign powers, with Russia and Iran backing Assad’s government, while Turkey supports the opposition. In response to the attacks, a spokesperson for the militant group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) stated that the offensive aims to push back Syrian and Russian forces from the frontlines.
The fighting also reflects broader geopolitical tensions. Analysts suggest the offensive is partly a message from Turkey to Syria and Russia, warning against military action in northwest Syria, particularly in Aleppo, where Russian-backed Syrian forces are believed to have been preparing for an attack. In addition to this, a general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards was killed during the fighting, highlighting Iran’s involvement in the region.
Despite Russian air support, government forces appear ill-prepared for the assault, leading some observers to question whether Assad’s reliance on Hezbollah and other groups distracted his forces from the growing threat in Aleppo.