Battle of Aleppo (2024)

Last updated

Battle of Aleppo (2024)
Part of the northwestern Syria offensive (2024) during the Syrian civil war
Northwestern Syria offensive (2024), Aleppo.svg
Map of the battle in and around Aleppo city
  Controlled by the Syrian Arab Republic
  Controlled by the Syrian opposition
  Controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces
Date29 November 2024 – present
(1 day)
Location
Result Ongoing
Territorial
changes
  • Syrian opposition forces capture most of the city [1]
  • Syrian government forces retreat from the city [2] [3]
Belligerents

Flag of the Syrian Salvation Government.svg Syrian Salvation Government

Syrian revolution flag.svg Syrian National Army

Flag of Syria.svg  Syria

Flag of Russia.svg  Russia [5] [6]

Flag of Iran.svg  Iran


De facto SA-NES Flag.svg  Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria [8] (Since 30 November)

Contents

Casualties and losses
20+ rebels killed [9] Flag of Syria.svg Dozens of soldiers [3]
4 T-55s captured [10]
22 civilians killed [11] [12]

On 29 November 2024, Syrian opposition groups led by Tahrir al-Sham entered the Syrian Arab Army-held city of Aleppo. The battle began on the third day of a large scale rebel offensive. It is the first time fighting has broken out in the city since the earlier prolonged battle, which had ended in 2016. [13] [14]

On 30 November 2024, opposition groups captured most of the city, amid the collapse of pro-government forces. [15] [16]

Background

On 27 November 2024, Syrian opposition groups led by Tahrir al-Sham launched an offensive on pro-government forces in Northwestern Syria. The offensive, the first of its kind by any side in the conflict since March 2020 Idlib ceasefire, resulted in the rapid capture of dozens of villages by the opposition forces. During the offensive, rebels reportedly seized 70 sites in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib and about 10,000 civilians fled the fighting to the Idlib countryside, northwestern Syria. [17] [18]

Battle

Photo of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members outside of the Aleppo citadel Photo of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members outside of the citadel.jpg
Photo of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members outside of the Aleppo citadel

On 29 November 2024, rebel forces approached the outskirts of Aleppo. During the afternoon, rebels entered the Hamdaniyah and New Aleppo neighborhoods in the city, after carrying out a double suicide bombing with two car bombs. [13] In the latter half of the day, opposition forces captured five city districts, Al-Hamdaniya, New Aleppo, 3000 Apartments, Al-Jamiliya, and Salah al-Din districts. Clashes were reported elsewhere in the city, including its center. [15] By midnight, opposition forces had captured parts of Al-Sukariyya, Al-Furqan, Al-Adhamiya, and Saif al-Dawla districts, and claimed to have had taken control of the main square of Aleppo. [19] [20] [21]

According to eyewitnesses, residents of Aleppo fled the neighborhoods on the western side due to the exchange of missiles and gunfire. [14] The rebel forces issued evacuation warnings calling on residents of Aleppo to move eastwards "for your safety". [22] Syrian state media reported that projectiles launched by the rebels hit student housing in the University of Aleppo, killing four people, including two students. [23]

In the early hours of 30 November 2024, rebel forces captured the Citadel of Aleppo and the government headquarters in the city, as well as "more than half" of the city. [24] [19] [25] By morning, rebel forces had seized control of most of Aleppo, facing little resistance and forcing pro-government troops to retreat toward as-Safirah. [16] Government forces and Iranian militias remained in control of a few neighborhoods in northeastern Aleppo. [26]

Concurrently, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces occupied Aleppo International Airport and the Shaykh Najjar district, following the withdrawal of pro-government forces. [8] In the evening, rebels took control of Aleppo airport from the SDF without clashes. [27]

The Syrian Armed Forces (SAA) vowed to repel the attack and accused the rebels of spreading "false information" about their advance. [28] However, the army later acknowledged the rebel gains in "large parts" of the city and reported that "dozens" of its soldiers were killed, forcing it to redeploy "aimed at strengthening the defence lines in order to absorb the attack" and "preserve the lives of civilians and soldiers". It was also reportedly preparing to counter-attack, while rebel gatherings within the city were targed by airstrikes. [3]

An airstrike, reportedly carried out by Russian aircraft, killed 16 civilians and injured 20 others in the city. [12]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajnad al-Sham</span>

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The Syrian National Army, previously the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and also known as the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA), is a coalition of armed Syrian opposition groups in the Syrian Civil War. Comprising various rebel factions that emerged at the start of the war in July 2011, it was officially established in 2017 under the auspices of Turkey, which provides funding, training, and military support.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019)</span> Syrian government military operation against rebels

The 2019 northwestern Syria offensive, codenamed "Dawn of Idlib", was a military operation launched on 30 April 2019 by the Syrian Armed Forces and its allies against rebel groups in northwestern Syria during the Syrian civil war in a region known as "Greater Idlib", consisting of northwest Hama, southern Idlib and northeastern Latakia provinces. The government's main objectives were to open the M5 highway and to expel non-compliant militant groups, particularly the internationally proscribed al-Qaeda-linked group known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), from the 15–20 km demilitarized zone demarcated by Turkey and the Russian Federation at Sochi in 2018. The offensive was seen by both parties as crucial to the outcome of the war.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwestern Syria clashes (December 2022–November 2024)</span> Series of intensified clashes in Syria

Starting on 2 December 2022, a series of intensified clashes broke out of the frontlines of the 'Idlib de-escalation zone' located in the governorates of Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Latakia. These confrontations initiated through inghimasi, infiltration and sniper attacks by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied militant groups against positions held by the pro-government Syrian Arab Army (SAA) positions. These attacks were called We Will Not Reconcile by HTS. In 2023, the first territorial offensive since 2020 was carried out by HTS in the area of Milaja.

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References

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  2. "Syrian army withdraws troops from Aleppo to prepare counteroffensive". Politico . 30 November 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, army says dozens of soldiers killed". Reuters. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "In parallel with the continuation of the "Deterrence of Aggression" operation: More than 30 airstrikes and the killing of about 100 members of the regime forces, the Authority and the factions in the Aleppo countryside" (in Arabic). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  5. "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). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  6. "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). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  7. "IRGC commander killed by rebels in Aleppo amid clashes". Rudaw. 28 November 2024.
  8. 1 2 "بعد انسحاب الميليشيات الإيرانية وقوات النظام.. القوات الكردية تنتشر في مطار حلب الدولي ونبل والزهراء وتسيطر على الحواجز" [After the withdrawal of Iranian militias and regime forces. Kurdish forces deploy in Aleppo International Airport, Nubl and Zahraa and control the checkpoints] (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
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  11. "Dramatic escalation | Six students ki*lled and wounded in rocket fire by rebels on university student dormitory in Aleppo city". SOHR. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  12. 1 2 "استشهاد 16 شخص.. مجزرة مروعة ترتكبها الطائرات الحربية في مدينة حلب" [16 people killed.. A horrific massacre committed by warplanes in the city of Aleppo] (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  13. 1 2 "بعد تفجير سيارتين مفخختين.. فصائل عملية "ردع العدوان" تدخل أجزاء من أحياء في مدينة حلب" [After detonating two car bombs, the factions of the "Deterrence of Aggression" operation enter parts of neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo] (in Arabic). SOHR. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
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  15. 1 2 "وسط انهيار قوات النظام.. "الهيئة" والفصائل تسيطران على 5 أحياء في مدينة حلب و20 بلدة وقرية في ريفي حلب وإدلب" [Amidst the collapse of the regime forces.. "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" and the factions control 5 neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo and 20 towns and villages in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib] (in Arabic). 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  16. 1 2 "بعد غياب لنحو 8 سنوات.. الطيران الحربي يستهدف أحياء حلب.. وقوات "ردع العدوان" تتوغل في غالبية أحياء مدينة حلب" [After an absence of about 8 years. Warplanes target Aleppo neighborhoods. and the "Deterrence of Aggression" forces penetrate most of Aleppo city neighborhoods] (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
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  19. 1 2 "After controlling 5 neighborhoods, "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" and factions enter the streets of a number of other neighborhoods in Aleppo city" (in Arabic). SOHR. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
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  27. ""الهيئة" تسيطر على مطار حلب الدولي والعديد من المدن والبلدات في ريف حماة الشمالي وسط انهيار كامل لقوات النظام" ["The Authority" controls Aleppo International Airport and many cities and towns in the northern Hama countryside amid a complete collapse of the regime forces] (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  28. "In a shock offensive, insurgents breach Syria's largest city for the first time since 2016". AP News. 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2024-11-29.