In a dramatic escalation of Syria’s ongoing civil war, opposition forces, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have seized nearly all of Aleppo, marking the first time the city has fallen out of government control since the conflict began in 2011.

The rebel advance, which started on Wednesday, has been met with a series of Russian air strikes, targeting key locations across the region and leaving hundreds dead or wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, reported that at least 300 people have been killed so far, including at least 20 civilians.

The strikes have intensified in the wake of the rebel assault, with Russian air forces launching air raids in Aleppo, Idlib, and rural parts of Hama and Idlib provinces, where the rebels have made significant gains.

The Offensive and its Impact on Aleppo

Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, has been a focal point in the country’s civil war. The surprise offensive by opposition forces has caught the Syrian government off guard, despite the city being under tight government control for years.

As the rebel fighters, primarily HTS and allied factions backed by Turkey, pushed into the city, they quickly gained control of vast parts, including key government-held neighborhoods and strategic locations such as Aleppo’s airport.

In the midst of the chaos, Russian air strikes have become a crucial part of the Syrian government’s response. The Russian air force has played an instrumental role in keeping President Bashar al-Assad in power, especially during the peak of the civil war.

On Saturday, Russian warplanes hit Aleppo for the first time since 2016, targeting a refugee camp in Idlib and later striking the Aleppo University Hospital, killing at least 12 people, including eight civilians.

In addition, air strikes were reported in other parts of Aleppo and its surrounding areas, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The air strikes have not only caused a significant loss of life but also compounded the dire situation on the ground.

SOHR also reported that more than 50 people were wounded in the strikes in Idlib, many of them civilians.

Rescue operations have been hampered by ongoing bombardments, with the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group, working tirelessly to save those trapped under rubble.

Rebel Advances and Syrian Military Response

As the rebels consolidated their hold on Aleppo, they pushed south toward Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city.

The Syrian military, in response, has reinforced its defensive lines in the region, deploying additional troops, rocket launchers, and heavy artillery to prevent further rebel advances.

However, despite these efforts, the rebels have managed to secure several towns in the countryside and cut off key supply lines, further weakening government positions.

Syria’s defense ministry issued a statement on Sunday claiming that joint Syrian-Russian warplanes had carried out precise strikes on rebel positions, killing and wounding dozens of opposition fighters.

The statement also asserted that the military had recaptured several towns previously seized by rebels, claiming that the rebels were fleeing the region under heavy fire.

While Syrian state media reported some success in pushing back the rebels, the situation on the ground remains fluid. Rebel forces continue to push forward, capturing new territory, and have announced a curfew in Aleppo as they solidify their control over the city.

A Changing Battlefield

The recent developments in Aleppo represent a significant shift in the dynamics of the Syrian civil war, with opposition forces managing to gain the upper hand in one of the country’s most contested cities.

The intensity of the fighting and the scale of the casualties underscore the ongoing volatility in the region, as well as the complex network of alliances and rivalries that continue to fuel the conflict.

The surprise offensive, led by HTS, has been described as one of the most significant military engagements in Syria in recent years.

The Islamist group has capitalized on a power vacuum left by the Syrian government’s preoccupation with other fronts, launching an offensive that has sent shockwaves through the region.

The group is known for its hardline ideology and is backed by Turkey, which has been a key player in the Syrian conflict, supporting opposition factions against the Assad regime.

As the rebels push forward, they have also faced resistance from Kurdish forces, who control several neighborhoods in Aleppo.

These groups have largely stayed out of the larger conflict between the Syrian government and opposition forces, but the ongoing clashes threaten to escalate tensions further, adding another layer of complexity to the war.

The Role of Russia and the International Community

The continued involvement of Russia in the Syrian conflict has raised concerns about the future of peace efforts in the country.

Russia’s military intervention, which began in 2015, has been pivotal in supporting the Assad regime, allowing it to regain control over large portions of Syria.

However, Russia’s reliance on military force to maintain stability has been criticized by the international community, with many accusing Moscow of exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The United States has condemned the escalation in Aleppo, with a spokesperson citing Syria’s “reliance on Russia and Iran” as contributing factors to the current situation.

The spokesperson also pointed to the Syrian government’s failure to engage in peace talks and its refusal to implement a 2015 UN Security Council peace plan as key obstacles to resolving the conflict.

The situation in Syria remains deeply entrenched, with little sign of a resolution in sight. As the war drags on, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, and the potential for further international involvement grows.

The latest developments in Aleppo highlight the complexity of the war, where alliances shift rapidly, and the fight for control of key cities remains as brutal as ever.

Aleppo’s Future

As the battle for Aleppo rages on, the city’s future remains uncertain. The Syrian government’s loss of control over Aleppo is a significant blow to President Bashar al-Assad’s efforts to reclaim all of Syria. The rebel offensive, while gaining ground, also faces substantial challenges.

The military response from both Syrian and Russian forces is likely to intensify in the coming days, as they seek to push back opposition fighters and regain lost territory.

The humanitarian consequences of the ongoing fighting are likely to worsen in the short term, with more civilians caught in the crossfire.

As Aleppo teeters between opposing forces, the international community continues to watch closely, hoping for a resolution to a conflict that has left millions dead or displaced.

In the meantime, Syria’s civil war shows no sign of abating, with the struggle for control of Aleppo serving as the latest chapter in a long and tragic conflict.