In Syria, jihadists entered Aleppo, two days after the start of their offensive

After four years of relative the state in whichthe front wakes up in northern Syria. The rebels of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), heirs of the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, launched a dazzling offensive on Wednesday from their stronghold of Idlib – the only province still held by the opposition to Bashar al- Assad after more than a decade of civil war.

Fifty localities taken in two days

In two days, the jihadists would have taken around fifty localities. They are at the gates of Aleppo, the country's second city, where the regime reestablished total control in 2016, with the devastating support of the Russian air force.

Friday, November 29, after two car bomb attacks, the rebels entered the urban outgrowths of Hamdaniya and New Aleppo, to the west of the city, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). In the evening, their presence was reported in five neighborhoods in the west and southwest of the city. In videos broadcast on Telegrambut not authenticated, fighters claim to be in central Aleppo. They reportedly took control of several administrative buildings and security forces. The OSDH puts the number of deaths in the fighting since Wednesday at more than 270.

Hezbollah weakened, rebels take advantage

Why this resumption of war? According to Mohammad al Bachir, the rebel “governor” of Idlib, the Syrian army has recently reinforced its positions around Idlib and has increased bombings, in violation of a ceasefire negotiated in 2020 by Russia. ally of Assad, and Turkey, which supports groups allied to HTS. The rebel offensive would be preventive.

The HTS was also approaching Saraqeb, a key town located at the intersection of two highways. Other videos on Telegramwhich have not been authenticated by independent sources, show scenes of jubilation upon their arrival in the city. Yesterday, Damascus announced the sending of reinforcements and the Russian air force intensified its raids. Moscow called on the Assad regime to “restore order quickly”.

For Rami Abdel Rahmane, director of the OSDH, “It is strange to see the regime forces receiving such blows despite Russian air cover.” He hypothesizes that Syrian defense remains dependent on Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia whose reinforcement helped save Assad's power. However, Hezbollah is today very weakened by 70 days of Israeli shelling on Lebanon.