Rebels say their operation aims to stop Syrian government attacks targeting the civilian population in Idlib

Syrian rebel forces have seized strategic villages in northwestern Syria after intense clashes with Russian-backed Syrian government forces.

Some rebel groups affiliated with the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) have joined the operation, though the majority of those forces have so far refrained from participating, according to reports.

Since Wednesday, footage circulating on social media has shown HTS and aligned forces making significant advances, capturing large swathes of territory and progressing rapidly towards the outskirts of Aleppo city.

Iran’s SNN news agency reported on Thursday that Iranian Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Kioumars Pourhashemi was killed in Aleppo by “terrorists” linked to Israel, without giving further details.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 142 fighters from both sides have been killed in the past 24 hours.

A senior Turkish security source told MEE that Turkey attempted to prevent the offensive to avoid further escalating tensions in the region, especially given Israel’s wars on Gaza and Lebanon.

  • IndustryStandard@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    42·
    6 days ago

    Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham gives allegiance to the Syrian Salvation Government, which is an alternative government of the Syrian opposition in the Idlib Governorate.[54][55] While the organisation officially adheres to the Salafi school; the High Council of Fatwa of the Syrian Salvation Government - to which it is religiously beholden - consists of ulema from Ash’arite and Sufi traditions as well.

    It’s a hodge podge of any warlord willing to back America. Cherry picking a certain religious faction to blame is a futile effort.