Fierce battles in Northern Syria leave at least 242 dead as armed groups launch major offensive
The Observatory had previously reported approximately 200 casualties, mostly armed fighters, in what it describes as the "most violent" battles the region has witnessed in years.
Nov. 29, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - At least 242 people have been killed since Wednesday in northern Syria amid a large-scale offensive by armed groups against regime forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The Observatory had previously reported approximately 200 casualties, mostly armed fighters, in what it describes as the "most violent" battles the region has witnessed in years. The fighting is taking place within 10 kilometers of Aleppo, northern Syria's largest city.
On Friday, fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions reached the outskirts of Aleppo. SOHR Director Rami Abdulrahman told AFP that "fighting has now reached the strategic city of Saraqeb" under regime control, adding that "if rebels manage to capture it, this could erase the regime's gains in the region over the past five years."
The armed groups have "now taken control of about 50 towns and villages" in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, Abdulrahman noted. He expressed surprise at "seeing regime forces taking such heavy hits despite Russian air cover and early indicators that HTS would launch this operation."
The militants shelled Aleppo for the first time in four years, targeting the university district where four civilians were killed, according to state news agency SANA.
The conflict in northern Syria has been ongoing since 2011, with various armed groups, including HTS (formerly known as al-Nusra Front), fighting against government forces.
The region has been a focal point of military operations, with Russian forces supporting the Syrian regime while various opposition groups maintain control over parts of Idlib and Aleppo provinces.
The recent escalation marks a significant shift in the conflict's dynamics, potentially threatening the Syrian government's previous territorial gains in the region.