On 27 November 2024, Syrian opposition groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an offensive against the pro-government Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces in the western part of Aleppo Governorate in Syria. The offensive was called Deterrence of Aggression by the HTS and launched in retaliation for the increased SAA shelling of the Western Aleppo countryside.[5] The offensive is the first time opposition forces launched an attack since the March 2020 Idlib ceasefire.[6][7]
| Northwestern Aleppo offensive (2024) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Syrian civil war and Northwestern Syria clashes (December 2022–present) | |||||||||
.svg) Location of the offensive in northwestern Syria | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Russia[2][3] | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Abu Mohammad al-Julani |
 Bashar al-Assad | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
32 killed[4] |
37 killed, 5 captured[4] | ||||||||
| 1 civilian killed[1] | |||||||||
Background
editSince the March 2020 Idlib ceasefire agreement, large scale operations ceased between opposition and pro-government forces in Northwestern Syria. Starting in late 2022, HTS forces launched a series of infiltration and sniper attacks on government forces, leading up to the offensive.
In October 2024, a large mobilization by HTS and government forces was initiated in the Aleppo countryside. Where HTS had reportedly escalated its preparations for a large-scale offensive against government forces within the city of Aleppo. On 26 November 2024, government forces artillery struck the opposition held town of Ariha, killing and injuring 16 people.[5]
Offensive
editOn 27 November 2024, HTS announced that it had launched an offensive dubbed Deterrence of Aggression towards pro-government forces in western Aleppo Governorate.[8] The Syrian opposition claimed that the offensive was a response to artillery shelling by the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.[7]
During the first 10 hours of the offensive, HTS captured 17 towns and villages from pro-government forces, including the towns of Sheikh Aqil, Anjara, Bala, Hair Darkal, Qabtan al-Jabal, al-Saloum, Jam’iyat al-Ma’arri, al-Qasimiyah, Kafr Bisin, Hawr and Ajil. In addition, the 46th regiment base of government forces was besieged by the HTS and captured a few hours later.[2][1] The rebels claimed that 37 soldiers loyal to the Syrian regime and allied militias were killed.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Attackers control a military regiment, villages and towns in the Aleppo countryside.. 57 members of the regime forces and attacking factions were killed in the "Deterrence of Aggression" operation" (in Arabic). SOHR. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Weeks after the Syrian Observatory published the preparations... "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" attacks the Aleppo countryside in the "Response to Aggression" operation" (in Arabic). SOHR. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Coinciding with the Authority's attack on the regime forces' positions in the Aleppo countryside... a squadron of Russian aircraft flies in the "Putin-Erdogan" airspace" (in Arabic). SOHR. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b "In the first hours of the "Deterrence of Aggression" operation: 75 dead from the regime forces, the Authority and the factions.. and the latter approaches the city of Aleppo" (in Arabic). SOHR. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Most of them are children.. 16 citizens were killed and injured in regime forces' shelling of the city of Ariha" (in Arabic). SOHR. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Syrian rebels launch surprise offensive in northwest as regime retaliates with airstrikes". The New Arab. 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Edwards, Eyad Kourdi, Christian (2024-11-27). "Syrian rebels launch major attack on regime forces in Aleppo province". CNN. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Syrian opposition launches "Deterrence of Aggression" operation in the north of the country" (in Arabic). Al Jazeera. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.