Syrian authorities have closed Aleppo’s airport as well as all roads leading into the city as rebels fighting Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad say they have reached the city centre.
Reuters reported this today, November 30, citing sources in military circles.
This week, opposition forces led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a surprise offensive against government forces and reached Aleppo nearly decades after being driven out by Assad and his allies.
According to agency sources, Russia, one of Assad’s key allies, has promised additional military assistance to Damascus. The new equipment is expected to begin arriving within the next 72 hours. The Syrian army received orders for a “safe exit” from the main areas of the city, which the rebels entered.
The commander of the rebel Jaysh al-Izza brigade, Mustafa Abdul Jaber, said that the lack of manpower of the Iranian-backed enemy contributed to the rapid advance. Iran’s allies in the region have suffered a series of blows from Israel as the conflict in Gaza widens in the Middle East.
The rebels said their offensive was in response to increased strikes in recent weeks against civilians by Russian and Syrian air forces in opposition-held areas.
Türkiye, which backs the rebels, has given the green light for the offensive, agency sources said. However, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said yesterday, November 29, that the country is seeking to avoid greater instability in the region and warned that the recent attacks undermine de-escalation agreements.
The attack is the largest since March 2020, when Russia and Türkiye agreed to a de-escalation agreement.
Source: Reuters
Source: Racurs
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