NewStats: 3,261,259 , 8,173,554 topics. Date: Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at 05:23 PM 6u6c1l

Syria’s rebels seized most of Aleppo on Saturday as their sweeping advance ousted Russian forces from at least three military bases around the city.

Opposition fighters raced through Aleppo, Hama and Idlib provinces in a lightning advance that has stunned Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

By Saturday night, the rebels had entered the city of Hama in one of the most significant crises for the Syrian government in the country’s 13 years of civil war.

Fighters broke through government lines in the west and pushed deep into Syria’s second-largest city of Aleppo on Friday night, appearing in photographs outside the city centre’s medieval citadel.

“I am a son of Aleppo and was displaced from it eight years ago, in 2016. Thank God we just returned. It is an indescribable feeling,” said Ali Jumaa, a rebel fighter, in television footage filmed inside the city.

The Syrian army on Saturday itted that rebels had captured large parts of the city, and said regime forces had staged a temporary withdrawal to prepare a counter-offensive.

Dozens of towns and villages changed hands in the advance, and several Syrian military bases fell or were abandoned, including sites which had been used by Russian forces fighting to keep Assad’s regime in power since 2015.

As the rebel offensive accelerated, Russian forces were reported to have withdrawn from their base in the Al-Suqaylabiyah area in the northern Hama countryside, and also to have left Hama air base

Rebels also took Kuweires airbase east of Aleppo, which houses a military flying institute and is reported to have housed Russian troops and electronic warfare units.

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, on Saturday held urgent talks by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, discussing the situation in Syria.

“Both sides expressed serious concerns at the dangerous development of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic in connection with the military escalation in the Aleppo and Idlib provinces,” the ministry said.

Analysts predicted Assad’s forces could be forced from the entirety of Aleppo and Hama provinces by the end of the weekend.

Charles Lister, of the Middle East Institute think tank, said the rapid developments were “quite literally an earthquake within the 14 years of Syria’s crisis”.

“Assad is looking more vulnerable than ever. An absolute collapse,” he added.

Russian planes were also accused of killing at least 20 people in Aleppo in an air strike on a roundabout where rebels had toppled a statue of Assad’s late brother, Bassel al-Assad.

The offensive led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group and its allies has reignited front lines which had been largely static for more than four years.

As the group swept into Aleppo from the west, the rival Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), moved into the city from the east and took control of Aleppo’s international airport, after Syrian regime forces left.

However, by Saturday afternoon, the SDF, which has received significant US backing to fight Islamic State militants, was said to have handed the airport over to the other rebels.

One fighter posted a video of himself on a “tour” of the facility, offering the “good news” to our “brothers in the liberated areas”.

On Saturday, rebels also released a video saying they had captured the Abu al-Duhur air base, about 28 miles south of Aleppo. The air base changed hands and was destroyed earlier in the civil war. It has been held by the Syrian government since 2018.

The offensive has gathered momentum after apparently facing little organised resistance from the Syrian government forces, who had melted away, according to monitors.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has lent heavy to Assad since 2015 and Russian air power was pivotal to the Syrian government’s success in regaining control of its major cities during the civil war.

Russia’s port on the Syrian coast, at Tartus, is critical to its operations in the Mediterranean and in Libya, where Moscow is backing the military strongman Gen Khalifa Haftar.

Jalel Harchaoui, of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said: “While I’m not predicting Russia will abandon Tartus or Latakia, the proximity of Suqaylabiyah, less than 100km from Tartus, must be noted here.

“Any potential loss by Moscow of these ports would reshape the fate of the Haftar family.
“Russia’s extremely pleasant and comfortable circumstances in Libya have been logistically anchored in its secure bases in Syria.

“If this Syrian foundation were to falter, Moscow would become compelled to view its Libyan engagement as less natural and more costly.”

Rebel groups were ousted from Aleppo in 2016 with the help of Russian air power and Iranian forces, after a brutal four-year siege.

Inside Aleppo, schools and government offices were closed as most people stayed indoors, according to Sham FM radio, a pro-government station. Bakeries were open.

Social media posts purported to show the rebels outside the city’s citadel, and cellphone videos showed them talking with residents they visited at home, seeking to reassure them they will cause no harm.


The Syrian military said its withdrawal from Aleppo “is a temporary measure and (the military central command and armed forces) will work to guarantee the security and peace of all our people in Aleppo”.

Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher who fled Aleppo in 2016 and returned on Friday night after hearing the insurgents were inside, told Associated Press he had “mixed feelings of pain, sadness and old memories”.

He said: “As I entered Aleppo, I kept telling myself this is impossible! How did this happen?”

He said he strolled through the city at night, visiting the citadel, where the insurgents raised their flags, a major square and the university of Aleppo, as well as the last spot he was in before he was forced to leave for the countryside.

A rebel fighter said he had returned to the city for the first time in 13 years, when his older brother was killed at the start of the war.

Mohammad Al Abdo said: “God willing, the rest of Aleppo province will be liberated” from government forces.”

Source:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/30/syrian-rebels-capture-aleppo-airport-seize-majority-city/

Funny how Assad was in Moscow while all the destruction was taking place. Now, the situation in Syria is something else, with widespread destruction and impending bloodshed. I recently came across a video showing opposition forces being executed. The current power vacuum has created an opportunity for various terrorist groups to seize land from Assad's forces and exploit any weaknesses from any group. It's a ruthless struggle, where the last one standing claims victory.

As we speak, Aleppo is under siege, with reports of key targets like the Aleppo airport falling to the rebels. They've also taken control of Russian, Syrian, and Iranian bases, seizing a large cache of weapons. Russia's response has been weak, so far failed to prevent the rebels' advances in Aleppo. Yeah, they(Russia) continue to carry out airstrikes, but it's not enough to curb these guys.

Just hours ago, the rebels advanced into Idlib, now into the city of Hama and are pushing forward to expand their territorial control. The situation is like a battleground, with multiple factions fighting for power!

In summary Russia and Assad are f**ked

I see the hand of a country in this. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, my best friend.

obedience4:
In summary Russia and Assad are f**ked

How did Russia get so weak? 😭😭😭😂

Similar to how the Soviet Union got dissolved. Got strained till they could no longer keep up. Lol

kettykin:
I see the hand of a country in this

Turkey!
Russia
Iran
Syria
ISIS
HTS
KDF
SAA
FSA
Al Qaeda

Name it. They are all in Syria destroying themselves!

Folks worldwide are wondering who the US s in all these.
The truth is damn if anyone knows. Shit there is so complex. At some point during Obamas time in office, the state department and the CIA were arming and ing opposing camps/different rebel factions who hated each other.
Some jihadist groups were for Assad and some against. Hell, some just ed the fighting with no clear goals.
I think much later on, the West decided they weren't drunk enough for all that shit and basically decided to on the party. Even Russia, before the shit going on in Ukraine really hit the fan, was beginning to scale back on its involvement.

Assad and his family were in Moscow as at the time of these attacks though the plane that carried them was reported to have returned to Syria. It is not immediately clear whether Assad returned as well.

It is being reported that a coup is currently happening in Syria led by Assad's younger brother. With Russia currently distracted in Ukraine and Iran and Hezbollah afraid to make moves, Assad who they have been protecting, is exposed and weak. Which is why this coup is going on.

Whatever it is, it will remain a shitshow but from the look of it, Assads time as leader of Syria is over.

Another way to view this is that it is possible the US and really want to f(u)ck Russia up. Syria is host to the only Russian navy base that gives Russia access to a warm water port. During winter, Russians ports are essentially frozen and its military needs access to a warm water port which Syria provides. If Assad goes, Russia loses that access.

Middle East and fighting what are they fighting for in Syria Half of the country is destroyed Obama Government really destroyed so many countries

So y'all are ing terrorists like ISIS, Al Nusra & Al Qaeda now? Just to spite Russia?


Okay oh. I don't want to hear anyone complain when ISIS suicide bombs start going off across Europe and the US.


Because Syria will be their breeding ground.

Russia, what's happening to thee?

COMRADES, Russia is fuelling the war from one side while NATO is escalating the war from another angle

If I may ask, why Russia is always weak when it comes to international peace keeping?
Because no terrorists organisation will attack an American army base without a heavy reprisal that will lead to a huge casualty

Hmmm

Y

Ok

The more they shout "religion of piss", the more people are k!lled around them.
We all know them

Botragelad:

Turkey!
Russia
Iran
Syria
ISIS
HTS
KDF
SAA
FSA
Al Qaeda

You are not honest. You forget to mention USA and Israel . You are a paid agent
Name it. They are all in Syria destroying themselves!

Bleep terrorists

kettykin:
I see the hand of a country in this. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, my best friend.

Call a spade a spade, the Americans and NATO are involved just like it happening in Sudan...WW3 as already began.

I don't see rebels but terrorists and jihadists. ISIS is waiting in the wing to make a comeback in Syria.

When this shit eventually spills, Europe will be served again. They never learn

So they will have this type of problem and they will leave it and be fighting with Israel

Just like that saying " when a persons house is on fire and he is busy chasing rat "

Iran is the next

WriteerNg:
So y'all are ing terrorists like ISIS, Al Nusra & Al Qaeda now? Just to spite Russia?


Okay oh. I don't want anyone to complain when ISIS suicide bombs start going off across Europe and the US.


Because Syria will be their training ground for practice.

Rebel groups are fighting both the president, ISIS, Al Qaeda.

But 24 is reporting another thing from OP. That the army has captured back Aleppo and closed all highways in and out of Aleppo.

tutudesz:

Rebel groups are fighting both the president, ISIS, Al Qaeda.

They aren't rebels. They are terrorists

Or when did ISIS turn to rebels?

Russia is a fair weather friends. They're s just as others.

tutudesz:

Rebel groups are fighting both the president, ISIS, Al Qaeda.

Keep deceiving yourself. They've started their trademark beheading show. Hope you watch in delight.

WriteerNg:
So y'all are ing terrorists like ISIS, Al Nusra & Al Qaeda now? Just to spite Russia?


Okay oh. I don't want to hear anyone complain when ISIS suicide bombs start going off across Europe and the US.


Because Syria will be their breeding ground.

Normally the op is full of it..
Brainwashed western muppet

CIA and the West are well and truly tired of the Assads.

Time to destroy another Middle Eastern nation.