In a shock offensive, insurgents breach Aleppo, Syria's largest city
NPR Online NewsNOV 20 2024
Syrian, Russian Jets Intensify Strikes Against Insurgent-Held Positions
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
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.
Following the recent attacks, Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad vowed to "eliminate" the threat. According to reports, following Syrian and Russian airstrikes on insurgent strongholds on Sunday, Syrian troops began pushing insurgents back in Hama.
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 Spin
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.
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.