Jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies have taken control of more than half of Aleppo city, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
This rapid takeover occurred without any significant resistance from Syrian government forces, raising concerns about the resurgence of the Syrian civil war.
The SOHR reports that at least 277 people have been killed since the offensive began on Wednesday. Syrian authorities have closed Aleppo airport and all roads leading into the city.
This week’s advances mark the largest territorial gain for opposition factions in recent years and represent the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020.
The offensive comes as Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah, have been preoccupied with their own battles in Lebanon. The cease-fire in Hezbollah’s war with Israel, which took effect on Wednesday, coincided with the start of the Syrian opposition’s offensive.
