Heavy clashes in northern Aleppo province have left dozens of Syrian army soldiers and rebel fighters dead, as Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied armed groups launched a significant offensive against areas controlled by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that nearly 100 people were killed in the fighting, with HTS and its allies overrunning at least 10 positions held by the Syrian military.
According to the observatory, the violence claimed the lives of 44 HTS fighters and 16 members of allied groups, while the Syrian regime lost 37 soldiers, including four officers, in addition to five troops being captured. The observatory also noted that HTS fighters seized weapon depots, armoured vehicles, and heavy weaponry during their advance. Civilians, including children, were caught in the crossfire, with many injured or killed as Syrian forces retaliated with “hundreds of shells and missiles” targeting both military and civilian areas.
HTS forces pushed nearly 10 kilometers from the outskirts of Aleppo city and advanced closer to the towns of Nubl and Zahra, predominantly Shia areas known for a strong Hezbollah presence. They also targeted the al-Nayrab airport east of Aleppo, which houses outposts of pro-Iranian fighters. The offensive comes amid heightened tensions, attributed to intensified airstrikes in southern Idlib by Russian and Syrian forces in recent weeks. HTS reportedly acted preemptively to forestall a potential Syrian military assault, as government troops were observed amassing near the frontlines.
The Syrian government and its Russian allies have long targeted HTS, which is designated as a “terrorist organization” by the United States. Although HTS severed ties with al-Qaeda and sought to rebrand itself as a local force focused on Syria, it remains the dominant rebel faction in northwestern Syria. The recent clashes underscore the ongoing volatility in the region, with HTS leveraging its strength to challenge government control.
While Syrian state media did not report on the fighting, pro-government sources claimed the army responded by pounding HTS positions, killing dozens of fighters. Witnesses described scenes of panic in Aleppo, where hundreds of families fled their homes, seeking refuge closer to the Turkish border.
The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, continues to exact a heavy toll. Despite Russian intervention bolstering President al-Assad’s regime since 2015, regions like Idlib and northern Aleppo remain flashpoints for violence, reflecting the enduring complexity of Syria’s civil war.
