Syrian troops withdraw from Aleppo as rebels advance

On Saturday, it was reported that rebel soldiers were observed near the fortress in Aleppo.

Forces loyal to the Syrian government have pulled out of Aleppo after a strong attack by opposing rebel groups fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The military admitted that insurgents had taken control of "many areas" in the nation's second-biggest city, but promised to launch a counteroffensive.

The recent assault represents the fiercest clashes seen in Syria's civil conflict in quite some time.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based organization, over 300 individuals have lost their lives since the conflict started on Wednesday, with at least 20 of those being civilians.

During a speech on Saturday, President Assad committed to protecting Syria's stability and territorial integrity against all terrorists and their supporters.

"[The country] has the ability, with support from its allies and partners, to overcome and eradicate them, regardless of the scale of their terrorist assaults," his office reported him saying.

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi, is scheduled to travel to Damascus on Sunday to talk about the military operation.

The civil war started in 2011 when the Assad regime violently suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations, resulting in about 500,000 casualties.

Since a ceasefire was established in 2020, the fighting has mostly subsided. However, opposition groups continue to hold power in the northwestern city of Idlib, as well as in much of the nearby province.

Idlib is located only 55 kilometers (34 miles) away from Aleppo, a city that was controlled by rebels until it came under government control in 2016.

The recent military campaign has been spearheaded by the Islamist militant organization called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), along with its affiliated groups that receive support from Turkey.

HTS was seen as one of the most powerful and lethal groups opposing the Assad regime, and it had already established itself as the leading power in Idlib.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reports that the insurgents have seized control of the airport in Aleppo along with numerous towns in the surrounding area.

They also declared a nighttime curfew that started at 5 PM local time (2 PM GMT).

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that rebel forces have advanced into multiple towns in the rural areas close to Hama, Syria's fourth largest city, located south of Aleppo, while the Syrian army has pulled back.

However, a military source cited in Syrian state media challenged this assertion.

Rebel fighters in Syria are rejoicing after claiming to have gained 'majority' control of Aleppo.

The Syrian military reported that insurgents had initiated "a large-scale offensive from several directions on the fronts of Aleppo and Idlib," noting that fighting occurred "over an area greater than 100 kilometers (60 miles)."

It reported that many of its troops have lost their lives.

The Russian air force, which was instrumental in helping Assad maintain his position during the height of the civil war, conducted air strikes in Aleppo on Saturday.

These attacks were the first that Russia has carried out in the city since it assisted Syrian government troops in regaining control of it back in 2016.

Later on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there were nine additional Russian attacks in Idlib.

A representative from the United States stated that Syria's dependence on Russia and Iran, combined with its unwillingness to implement a UN Security Council peace agreement from 2015, has "led to the current situation" in the country.

Images captured on Saturday revealed traffic congestion on the roads departing from Aleppo, as individuals sought to escape the city. Meanwhile, smoke was seen billowing from the cityscape.

Smoke was observed rising from buildings in Aleppo after Russian airstrikes on Saturday.