Syria’s Aleppo Falls to Rebels as Tensions Escalate Towards Hama

Rebel groups in northwestern Syria have launched a dramatic offensive, seizing control of Aleppo in a lightning assault that began last week. The rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that has distanced itself from its al-Qaeda roots, have since set their sights on Hama, a strategically vital city to the south. The offensive marks the latest escalation in the Syrian conflict, which, since its onset in 2011, has seen shifting alliances and stalemated front lines. The latest developments signal a significant turning point in a war that has long been dominated by pro-Assad forces backed by Russia and Iran.

The surprise rebel push, which began Friday with the capture of Aleppo, has forced government forces under President Bashar al-Assad to retreat from the city, home to more than 2 million people. The capture of Aleppo by HTS and its allies has dealt a major blow to Assad’s control over key urban centers in the country. Rebels also seized other important sites, including the supply-line town of Khanasir, the Aleppo Industrial City, and the military academy and artillery college in the region.

Since the rebels’ gains, Syrian and Russian forces have launched fierce counterattacks, reportedly conducting airstrikes in opposition-controlled areas, including Aleppo and Idlib, as they attempt to regain lost ground. The Syrian state news agency, SANA, reported that government forces have been fortifying Hama, located to the south of Aleppo, and were able to push back opposition fighters in the northern countryside of the province. The army is reportedly receiving reinforcements, including heavy equipment and rocket launchers.

The offensive is seen as a major shift in the conflict, which had been largely stagnant in recent years, with rebel groups confined mainly to Idlib province since 2020. Geir Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy to Syria, called for an immediate political resolution, warning that the latest escalation could have severe consequences for civilians and pose significant risks to regional and international peace.

The group leading the offensive, HTS, has evolved from its origins as the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, into the most powerful opposition force in northwestern Syria. However, it remains a designated “terrorist” organization by the United States, Syria, and Russia, complicating any potential international response to its growing influence in the region. The shift in momentum from pro-Assad forces to rebel control over key areas underscores the fragile nature of the Syrian conflict, which shows no signs of resolution.