Rebels in Aleppo in front of a torn poster of Assad Photo: Omar Albam/ AP
The Syrian army on Saturday confirmed that it had lost control of the key city of Aleppo, which has become one of the main targets of the rebels fighting against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. However, government forces said it was only a “temporary withdrawal” in preparation for a counterattack after the arrival of reinforcements. According to Reuters, dozens of soldiers have been killed or wounded in heavy fighting in Aleppo and Idlib in recent days.
The loss came a day after rebels announced the capture of Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city. They claim that the city came under their control as a result of the escalation of the civil war, which, despite some lulls in recent years, has gained momentum again.
The Syrian army had previously claimed a “large-scale attack” and said it was “consolidating all segments along different battle fronts”. However, local residents report that Assad’s troops have withdrawn from several areas of western Aleppo.
The main force behind the attack is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group formerly linked to al-Qaeda but recently trying to rebuild its image by focusing on governance and military strategy in opposition-controlled areas. The rebels have stated that the main objectives of the offensive are to stop airstrikes on civilian areas, regain lost territory and cut off critical supply routes for government forces.
The rebels are currently continuing their offensive, capturing several villages, strategic highway intersections and military bases in Aleppo province.
