The Bashar al-Assad regime gave up control of Aleppo within three days, thanks to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Lebanon conflict that saw ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
On the heels of Arab Spring, the rebels in Syria captured Aleppo for the first time in 2012 and held on to it until 2016 when the Assad troops took back control of the city. The rebels, Hei’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), first gained prominence in 2020 when Turkey intervened in Syria's Idlib region on its border.
Rebels in Syria have breached the outskirts of Aleppo after staging two car bomb attacks - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) November 29, 2024
According to war monitor, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions were able to enter the outskirts of the Al-Hamdaniya and New Aleppo… https://t.co/2WN26VLrBb pic.twitter.com/rRhPv3IEbd
How Syrian rebels took advantage of two wars
Russia has been fighting in Ukraine since 2022 while in the Middle East, Israel has defeated Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon respectively.
With its allies engaged in continuous war elsewhere, the supply of arms to the Syrian troops were depleted, allowing the rebels to take advantage of the situation.
Russia had earlier withdrawn its S-300 missile systems from Syria when the Ukraine war started.
Tel Aviv has also pounded Iranian proxies in Syria following the Hamas attack on Israel. Iran is cautious in intervening in the new offensive in Syria as it could prompt further bombing from Israel side.
On Monday, it was reported that the Assad forces have bolstered security in Hama, which lies south of Aleppo, and pushed back the rebels advancing towards them. Russia has also supported the regime with airstrikes and supply of heavy equipment.
In Aleppo province, the rebels have taken control of a military base on the city outskirts and 15 villages besides cutting of the highway that connects Aleppo and Damascus.
