In a shock offensive, insurgents breach Aleppo, Syria's largest city
NPR Online NewsDec 04, 2024
Syrian, Russian Jets Intensify Strikes Against Insurgent-Held Positions
Above: The Rashidin district on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, on Nov. 29, 2024. Image copyright: Bakr Alkasem/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Fighter jets from Syria and Russia intensified their attacks on insurgent-held areas of Syria's northwest after the city of Aleppo fell to anti-government militants in a surprise offensive over the weekend.
The fall of Aleppo, including its airport, came after a coalition of insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — a former affiliate of Al-Qaeda and widely considered a terror organization — launched its multi-pronged assault from its stronghold in the Idlib province on Wednesday — since spreading to the neighboring provinces of Aleppo and Hama.
Meanwhile, Turkish-backed militants from the Free Syrian Army, as part of the anti-government coalition, attacked and captured positions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces — another militant group largely made up of Kurdish fighters that previously received US backing.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While the West is concerned about the possible resurgence of jihadist terror groups in Syria, it will not complain too much about Assad's government — alongside its partners in Russia and Hezbollah — being put under pressure.
Establishment-critical narrative
The terror groups waging this campaign have a long history of conspiring with Western governments in an effort to overthrow Assad. However, Assad will undoubtedly repel these attacks as he had done previously.
Metaculus Prediction
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