IRIA News

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Russian and Syrian warplanes launched airstrikes on Idlib and Aleppo for the first time since 2016. The resurgence of violence follows a surprise offensive by rebel factions that seized significant portions of the city.

Russian and Syrian fighter jets targeted the southeastern outskirts of Aleppo, including civilian vehicles at a roundabout, resulting in at least 16 deaths and 20 injuries, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. These airstrikes came after the rebel alliance, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), advanced deep into Aleppo, capturing strategic sites and neighborhoods.

According to the Syrian civil defense group the White Helmets, the preliminary toll of victims from the Syrian regime and Russian airstrikes on the city of Idlib, its countryside, and the countryside of Aleppo, includes fatalities of 18 civilians, including five children, two women, and 11 men. In addition, about 125 civilians including 54 women and 39 children have been injured.

The resurgence of violence and surprise attack by the rebels left thousands of civilians fleeing Aleppo toward Latakia and Salamiya. Residents rapidly packed into cars, leaving behind their homes and belongings. The United Nations estimates that 14,000 people have been displaced in the past week alone.

Preliminary toll of victims from Syrian regime and Russian airstrikes on the city of #Idlib, its countryside, and the countryside of #Aleppo (excluding the city of Aleppo, for which a separate tally is being prepared), as of Sunday, December 1, 7:00 PM:

🔳 Fatalities: 18… pic.twitter.com/Qq9p0mgJpB

— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 1, 2024

Rebel forces started their operation under the banner of the newly formed Military Operations Command, and have seized control of critical infrastructure, including the Aleppo International Airport.

The resurgence of violence in Northern Syria marks the first time rebels have captured such a vital facility since the start of the civil war. The rebel coalition also overran dozens of towns and villages across Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama provinces with minimal resistance from government forces.

“There has been no fighting, not a single shot was fired, as regime forces withdrew,” Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The government troops were reported to be facing heavy losses as they retreated to a suburb of Aleppo to prepare a counteroffensive.

The Observatory reported that 301 people, including 28 civilians, have been killed in the fighting over the past few days.

Syrian government response

The initial response to the rebel offensive came from the Syrian President Bashar Al Assad who vowed to defeat what he termed “terrorist attacks”. Assad receives substantial backing and support from allies like Russia and Iran.

“Syria continues to defend its stability and territorial integrity in the face of all terrorists and their backers, and it is capable… of defeating and eliminating them, no matter how intense their terrorist attacks are,” Assad said in a statement.

Russia has been a crucial ally to the Syrian regime since. Russian forces confirmed that their jets conducted airstrikes to support Assad’s troops. These strikes targeted rebel-controlled areas and surrounding towns, aiming to curb the insurgents’ momentum. The Syrian military announced a temporary troop withdrawal to regroup for a counterattack but admitted that dozens of soldiers had been killed in the recent fighting.

Iran condemns rebel attacks

The rapid advances by the rebels have unsettled the region, prompting strong reactions from Syria’s key backers. Iran condemned the attack on its consulate in Aleppo, describing it as the work of “terrorist elements.” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei reassured that all the consulate staff were safe but strongly denounced the assault.

The last few years have seen Assad’s forces regain control over most of Syria, except Idlib and parts of Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia provinces. The current offensive by HTS and its allies not only reclaims territory but also disrupts the perception of Assad’s consolidated power.

A new phase in the Syrian civil war

The sudden surge in fighting comes after a period of relative calm in Syria’s protracted civil war. With rebel forces making unprecedented gains and regime forces appearing momentarily disorganized, questions arise about the future trajectory of the conflict.

The Military Operations Command, comprising various rebel factions, claimed the offensive was a response to recent government artillery shelling that targeted civilian areas. HTS, which controls large parts of the Idlib region and neighboring provinces, remains a dominant force in the opposition. The group, which split from al-Qaeda in 2017, has grown increasingly assertive in its operations.

Scenes after Syrian regime aircraft targeted the neighborhoods of Al-Qusour, Al-Khamara, and Al-Shamali in #Idlib city, today. 9 civilians were killed, including 3 children and a woman, and 59 others, including 21 children and 19 women, were injured.
#WhiteHelmets #Syria pic.twitter.com/ofFjEhENe7

— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 1, 2024

For Assad, this development poses the most significant challenge since 2015, when Russian intervention helped turn the tide of the war in his favor. The loss of Aleppo—a key economic and strategic hub—would mark a symbolic and tactical blow to the regime.

The escalation has already taken a devastating toll on civilians. As warplanes pound the region, displaced families are scrambling for safety, adding to Syria’s staggering humanitarian crisis. Aid agencies are bracing for a potential surge in refugees, while the UN has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to protect civilians.