In a dramatic turn of events that has shaken the Syrian government, Islamist insurgents seized control of Aleppo in a sudden offensive, prompting intense Syrian and Russian airstrikes across northern Syria. The loss of Syria's second-largest city represents one of the strongest challenges to Assad's authority in years, triggering a swift and deadly response from Damascus and its allies.
The retaliatory airstrikes have already claimed multiple civilian lives, with 12 people killed near a hospital in central Aleppo. In Idlib city, another airstrike resulted in four deaths and left 54 others injured, according to the White Helmets civil defense forces. The Syrian military, working jointly with Russian forces, has targeted various opposition-controlled areas, including positions near Aleppo's stadium.
Iran swiftly demonstrated its support for Damascus, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arriving for talks with Assad. During their meeting, which showed Assad grinning alongside the Iranian diplomat, the Syrian president emphasized that confronting the insurgency was crucial for regional stability. The Iranian delegation expressed firm backing for the Syrian government, with Araghchi later reporting that Assad maintained "admirable spirits" despite the challenging circumstances.
The insurgent offensive, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), swept through northwestern Syria in less than a week, capturing numerous towns and villages before taking Aleppo. The Syrian defense ministry has responded by reinforcing defensive lines and deploying heavy weaponry to the Hama province, where fierce battles are ongoing as insurgents push southward.
Officials and regional experts point to the redeployment of Russian forces to Ukraine as a potential factor in the sudden territorial losses. The situation has sparked intense diplomatic activity across the region, with Jordan expressing concern and Turkey engaging in discussions with both Iraq and the United States. The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, warned about the risks of escalation and emphasized that military means alone cannot resolve the Syrian conflict.