After successfully seizing control of Aleppo, Syrian insurgents have rapidly advanced into nearby Hama province, expanding their surprise offensive with little resistance from Syrian government forces. Led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the insurgents captured Aleppo’s international airport and several key districts of the city on Saturday. The offensive then spread to northern Hama, where they claimed to have entered the provincial capital by the evening.
The unexpected surge of insurgent forces has thrown the Syrian government into disarray, raising serious questions about the readiness of President Bashar al-Assad’s military. Activists and fighters on the ground reported that government troops had withdrawn in the face of the insurgent advance, allowing the rebels to take large swathes of territory with minimal opposition.
Insurgents Capture Aleppo, Head Toward Hama
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that insurgents, who launched their offensive on Wednesday, had made significant gains. By Saturday, they had secured key positions in Aleppo, including the city’s international airport, marking the first time an international airport in Syria had fallen into insurgent hands. The insurgents shared images from the airport and raised their flags over the iconic Aleppo citadel, signaling their growing control over the city.
With Aleppo under their control, the insurgents pushed east into northern Hama, a province they had been expelled from by government forces in 2016. By Saturday evening, they claimed to have entered the provincial capital, Hama, and seized several towns and villages along the way. This rapid advance has raised alarms that the insurgents may continue their offensive further south, potentially threatening the capital, Damascus.
Assad Vows to Defend Syria’s Territorial Integrity
In his first comments since the insurgent offensive began, President Bashar al-Assad vowed to “defend Syria’s stability and territorial integrity” and reiterated that his forces were prepared to defeat the insurgents despite their swift advances. Speaking via state media, Assad stated that Syria would continue to combat “terrorists” and their supporters, no matter how intensifying their attacks may be. He also expressed confidence that the Syrian army would ultimately regain control over the areas taken by insurgent forces.
The insurgent offensive, which has caught Assad’s forces off guard, comes at a time when Syria’s allies, including Iranian-backed Hezbollah, are distracted by ongoing conflicts elsewhere. Hezbollah, which has supported Assad’s government since 2015, has been engaged in a war with Israel, complicating the situation on the ground in Syria. The overlapping regional conflicts have further stretched the resources of Assad’s supporters.
Strategic Loss for Assad as Insurgents Gain Ground
The capture of Aleppo represents a significant blow to Assad’s regime. The city, which had been a stronghold of opposition forces during the earlier years of the Syrian civil war, was retaken by Assad’s forces in 2016 following a prolonged siege backed by Russian and Iranian military support. The recapture of Aleppo was seen as a turning point in the war, but now, the insurgent offensive threatens to unravel years of military gains.
This latest offensive is raising fears that Syria could be drawn back into full-scale conflict after a period of relative stalemate. The insurgents, including fighters backed by Turkey, had staged a two-pronged attack earlier this week, first targeting Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, before expanding into Hama.
On Saturday, Syrian state media acknowledged that insurgents had entered parts of Aleppo but insisted that they had not established permanent bases or checkpoints. The Syrian government vowed to mount a counteroffensive in the coming days to reclaim lost territory, though the absence of significant resistance from Syrian forces has raised questions about the regime’s ability to respond effectively.
Increased Tensions and Escalating Violence
The insurgent advance has led to heightened tensions in the city. Residents of Aleppo reported hearing gunfire and explosions, though most stayed indoors. Social media footage showed insurgents in the streets of Aleppo, raising their flags at major landmarks and filming their interactions with residents. The insurgents reassured locals that they would not cause harm, but many citizens fled the city to escape the violence.
The humanitarian situation in Aleppo has rapidly deteriorated, with the city’s hospitals reportedly overwhelmed by casualties. Both public and private hospitals were struggling to manage the influx of wounded civilians and fighters. At least 20 insurgent fighters were killed in airstrikes by Syrian government forces targeting reinforcements on the outskirts of the city.
Turkey’s Role in the Offensive
Turkey, a key backer of Syrian opposition forces, has expressed frustration over recent government attacks on opposition-held areas, which Ankara claims violate a de-escalation agreement negotiated by Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Turkish officials indicated that the insurgents had launched their offensive in part to halt Syrian government strikes on civilian areas and to allow displaced people to return home. The offensive has expanded, however, as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions.
A War on Multiple Fronts
The insurgent takeover of Aleppo and their subsequent advance into Hama has created a new dynamic in the ongoing Syrian conflict, which has already drawn in numerous regional and international players. Syrian government forces are stretched thin, with support from Russia and Iran, and now, with Hezbollah’s focus on its conflict with Israel, Assad faces the prospect of an emboldened opposition threatening his control of the country.
As the conflict intensifies, the insurgents’ ability to hold their newly gained territory remains uncertain. However, their rapid success has proven that the balance of power in Syria is far from settled, and Assad’s government may be on the brink of losing its grip on key areas of the country once again.
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