Aleppo, in northern Syria, finally fell this Saturday, November 30, 2024 with the capture of the airport. The fruit of the lightning offensive launched in the neighboring provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, Wednesday November 27, 2024, by the Sunni jihadist rebels Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), former branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria, and allied local formations, some of which are close to Turkey.
“The regime’s lines have collapsed”
It took three long years, between 2013 and 2016, for the troops of the Bashar al Assad regime, with the support of Russian bombings, to recapture the city of Aleppo from the Arab Spring insurgents. It took barely two days for the rebel military groups to recover almost all of Aleppo. Regime lines collapsed at an incredible pace that took everyone by surprise
estimates Dareen Khalifa, expert from the International Crisis Group.
Read also: Syria: five questions to understand the jihadist offensive underway in Aleppo
In the south-eastern suburbs of the city, the airport, closed during the night from Friday to Saturday by the authorities, also fell this Saturday after the regime forces removed
according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). The NGO added that the rebels had also advanced in the provinces of Idlib and Hama, taking control of dozens of strategic localities without any resistance
. With the capture of the town of Maraat al Noumane, the rebels even control the entire province of Idlib.
“Respect international humanitarian law”
According to a latest report from the OSDH, 327 people have been killed since Wednesday: 183 HTS fighters and rebel factions, 100 Syrian soldiers and members of the pro-government forces as well as 44 civilians. France called on Saturday all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilian populations
in Aleppo. France is carefully following the military developments in Aleppo
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Read also: VIDEO. Aleppo, Syria, falls to Islamist rebels
Russian and Syrian planes bombed rebels on Saturday in the suburbs of Aleppo. Russia also promised additional military aid to Damascus this Saturday to thwart the offensive. This support would begin arriving in Syria within 72 hours. The heads of Russian and Iranian diplomacy discussed on the telephone dangerous climbing
in Syria. Iran also affirmed on Saturday that terrorist elements
had attacked its consulate in Aleppo, in northern Syria
During the telephone call between the heads of Russian and Turkish diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov and Hakan Fidan, both sides expressed their deep concern over the dangerous developments in the situation in Syria, linked to the military escalation in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib
the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
