AMMAN, Nov 30 (Reuters) – The Syrian armed forces announced on Saturday that they suffered numerous casualties during a significant assault by rebel forces who invaded the city of Aleppo, compelling the military to shift its resources in the toughest test faced by President Bashar al-Assad in recent years.

The unexpected offensive, spearheaded by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, marks one of the most daring rebel offensives in years amidst a civil conflict where the front lines had remained largely stagnant since 2020.

The conflict has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, continuing since 2011 without a formal resolution. Most of the major fighting ceased years ago after Iranian and Russian support helped Assad’s regime regain control over most territories and key cities.

Aleppo had been securely under government control since a critical victory in 2016, a turning point in the war when Russian-backed Syrian forces besieged and devastated the rebel-held eastern parts of what was once the country’s largest city.

“I am a son of Aleppo and was displaced from it eight years ago in 2016. Thank God I have just returned. It’s an indescribable feeling,” shared Ali Jumaa, a rebel fighter, in footage taken inside the city.

In response to the rebel gains, the Syrian military stated that insurgents had captured significant portions of Aleppo.

Following the military’s announcement of a planned counterattack, airstrikes targeted rebel formations and vehicle movements in the city, as reported by the pro-government newspaper al-Watan. One strike reportedly inflicted casualties at Basel Square in Aleppo, according to a local resident.

Images from Aleppo overnight showed a group of rebel fighters congregating in Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, with a billboard of Assad visible behind them.

Footage recorded on Saturday depicted individuals taking pictures on a toppled statue of Bassil al-Assad, the late brother of the president. Fighters drove around the city in pickup trucks and congregated in the streets while one man waved a Syrian opposition flag near the historic citadel of Aleppo.

The Syrian military leadership indicated the rebels launched a massive assault from various angles, prompting “our armed forces to initiate a redeployment strategy aimed at reinforcing defense lines to withstand the attack and safeguard civilian and military lives”.

Additionally, the rebels reportedly took control of Aleppo airport, according to statements from their operations center and a security official.

Moreover, two rebel contacts indicated that insurgents captured the city of Maraat al Numan in Idlib province, securing control over that region entirely.

This resurgence of fighting re-ignites the enduring Syrian conflict as the broader region witnesses turmoil from wars in Gaza and Lebanon, with a truce between Israel and the Iranian-aligned Hezbollah group having commenced on Wednesday.

Assad’s regime relies on backing from Russia and Iran, while Turkey supports certain rebel factions in the northwest where it has troops. This recent offensive highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics of the conflict, which had largely stabilized in the northwest following a de-escalation agreement between Turkey and Russia in 2020.

Discussions between Russian and Turkish officials

On Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conducted a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, to discuss the evolving situation in Syria, as per the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Both officials expressed serious concerns over the troubling developments and agreed on the necessity of coordinating measures to stabilize the situation in Syria.

On Thursday, Turkish security officials indicated that Ankara had thwarted planned operations by opposition groups to prevent further escalation in the region.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi informed Lavrov during a call that the rebel offensives are part of a plot by Israel and the United States to destabilize the region, as reported by Iranian state media.

The Syrian Civil Defense, a rescue service operating in opposition-held areas, posted on X that Syrian government and Russian aircraft targeted residential neighborhoods in rebel-controlled Idlib, resulting in four civilian deaths and six injuries.

According to two Syrian military sources, Russia has assured Damascus of additional military support that will begin arriving within the next 72 hours.

The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), leading the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces controlling much of northeastern and eastern Syria, expanded their presence in Aleppo as government forces withdrew, according to a senior YPG official.

Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade, pointed out that the rapid advance by the rebels was aided by a shortage of Iran-backed forces to bolster the government’s position in the broader Aleppo area.

Iran’s allies in the region have faced multiple setbacks from Israeli operations as the conflict in Gaza has intensified throughout the Middle East.

Fighters have stated that their campaign was initiated due to an increase in airstrikes against civilians in Idlib province carried out by Russian and Syrian forces in recent weeks. Additionally, the campaign aimed to prevent potential attacks from the Syrian army.