Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sought to shore up support from his allies on Sunday, following a shocking rebel offensive that resulted in government forces losing control of Aleppo—Syria’s second-largest city—for the first time since the beginning of the country’s civil war. The rebel assault, led by the Islamist-dominated alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), targeted Syrian government forces backed by Russia and Iran. This attack came on the same day a fragile ceasefire took effect between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon after two months of intense fighting.
According to Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the HTS and its allied factions now control most of Aleppo, with the exception of neighborhoods held by Kurdish forces. “For the first time since the civil war started more than a decade ago, Aleppo city is out of control of Syrian regime forces,” Rahman told AFP.
In response to the escalating situation, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Damascus on Sunday to meet with Assad. Prior to his departure, Araghchi stated that Tehran would “firmly support the Syrian government and army,” as reported by Iranian state media. During their meeting, Assad emphasized the importance of continued support from allies in confronting what he described as “foreign-backed terrorist attacks.”
Meanwhile, Syrian and Russian air forces conducted deadly airstrikes in Aleppo and Idlib provinces on Sunday, reportedly killing at least 12 people in Aleppo and nine civilians in Idlib. Russia’s military confirmed its involvement in helping Syrian forces repel what it described as “terrorist aggression.” Syrian state news agency SANA reported that warplanes targeted a group of terrorist commanders and destroyed a convoy carrying arms and ammunition in Idlib.
The latest wave of violence has claimed over 400 lives, with a significant number of those casualties being combatants, though at least 61 civilians have also died. The Observatory noted that rebel forces met little resistance as they advanced across northern Syria, including key towns such as Khan Sheikhun and Maaret al-Numan.
These airstrikes in Aleppo mark the first since 2016, when the Syrian army, supported by Russian air power, regained control of the city from rebel forces. However, the recent offensive has shown the vulnerability of the Syrian regime, particularly in Aleppo, a city that remains of strategic importance.
Aaron Stein, President of the US-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, pointed out that Russia’s involvement in Syria has diminished significantly, making airstrikes less effective. “The rebel advance is a reminder of how weak the regime is,” Stein remarked.
Analyst Aron Lund of the Century International think tank added that unless Syria can mount a successful counteroffensive or receive substantial aid from Russia and Iran, Aleppo may remain out of government control. “A government without Aleppo is not really a functional government of Syria,” Lund stated.
In response to the escalating violence, the United States, along with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, called for a “de-escalation” of the conflict and for the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure. A statement from the US State Department emphasized the urgent need for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which endorses a peace process in Syria.
Parallel to the HTS offensive, pro-Turkey factions in northern Syria launched an attack on Kurdish fighters in Aleppo province, seizing the strategic town of Tal Rifaat and nearby villages. UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen warned that these developments pose severe risks to civilians and have significant implications for regional and international peace and security.