Rebels enter Aleppo, Syrian army's front line shakes violently

(Dan Tri) - The Syrian army said rebel forces have entered large areas of Aleppo city in an attack that has killed dozens of government soldiers.

Conflict flared up again after rebels suddenly attacked Aleppo in Syria after 8 years (Photo: Getty).

The surprise attack by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has shaken up fronts in Syria that have been frozen since 2020, reviving fighting in a corner of the divided country near the Turkish border.

The Syrian army said it was preparing a counter-offensive to restore control. It was the first time it publicly acknowledged that rebels had entered Aleppo, which has been under full government control since a Russian- and Iranian-backed campaign to oust rebels eight years ago.

"The large number of fighters and the many fronts have prompted our armed forces to carry out a redeployment operation to strengthen the defense lines to withstand the attack, protect the lives of civilians and soldiers, and prepare for a counterattack," the Syrian army said.

The Syrian army says rebels have advanced into large areas of Aleppo but shelling by government forces has prevented them from establishing permanent positions.

Two rebel sources said they had also captured the city of Maraat al Numan in Idlib province, bringing the entire province under their control, in what would be another major blow to President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The offensive was launched from rebel-held areas in northwestern Syria, which remain outside government control.

Russian and Syrian warplanes targeted rebels on the outskirts of Aleppo on Saturday, two Syrian military sources said.

Speaking on November 29, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow considered the rebel attack a violation of Syria's sovereignty . "We support the Syrian authorities in restoring order to the region and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," he said.

Two Syrian military sources said Russia had promised Damascus more military aid, expected to begin in the next 72 hours. Two military sources and a third military source said the government had closed Aleppo airport and roads into the city.

Three military sources said the Syrian army had been told to comply with orders for a "safe withdrawal" from key areas of the city that rebels had entered.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/phien-quan-tien-vao-aleppo-tien-tuyen-cua-quan-doi-syria-rung-lac-manh-20241130201837121.htm