Syria deploys reinforcements as insurgents seize Aleppo in surprise offensive

The Syrian military deployed reinforcements on Sunday to push back insurgents advancing into the northern Hama countryside, after they seized Aleppo and several surrounding strategic locations in a surprise offensive.

The insurgents, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, captured most of Aleppo on Saturday and claimed to have entered the city of Hama. While this claim has not been independently verified, rebel commander Col. Hassan Abdulghani confirmed that the insurgents had also taken control of key locations, including Sheikh Najjar (Aleppo's industrial city) to the northeast, as well as the military academy and field artillery college southwest of the city.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Damascus later on Sunday, reaffirming Tehran's support for the Syrian government and its military.

This swift and unexpected offensive is a significant embarrassment for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, raising questions about the preparedness of his military forces. The attack also comes at a time when Assad's key allies — Iran and Russia — are preoccupied with their own conflicts in the region.

Syrian state television reported government forces had killed nearly 1,000 insurgents over the past three days, although these figures have not been independently verified. In response, Syrian government airstrikes on Idlib city, a rebel-held stronghold near Hama province, reportedly killed four civilians and wounded 54 others, according to the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets).

Reports from Syrian state news agency SANA and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that government forces had pushed back insurgents in northern Hama, establishing a "strong defensive line." Both sources also reported Russian airstrikes in Idlib and other areas now under rebel control.

In his first public statement since the start of the offensive, President Assad vowed Syria would continue to "defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters," adding the government would defeat the insurgents, no matter how intense their attacks became.

The 2016 battle for Aleppo marked a turning point in the Syrian Civil War, which began after protests against Assad's rule in 2011 escalated into full-scale conflict. The battle for Aleppo helped Assad regain control of vital areas in Syria, while opposition factions and their foreign backers continued to hold territories on the outskirts.