Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) is continuing its assault on the city of Aleppo. The Syrian government announced that HTS was carrying out attacks with heavy weapons, thousands of fighters, and drones and that the group had carried out two suicide attacks in the city.
Extent of the attack
Earlier today HTS entered Aleppo, killing at least four civilians and shelling Aleppo’s university. 255 people have been killed in the fighting since 26 November.
There are increasing concerns about the safety of the civilians in the Kurdish neighbourhoods of Eşrefiye and Shasmeqsûd in Aleppo – just 10km away from the HTS advance. HTS includes many ex-ISIS fighters.
Kurdish journalist Mirkhas Afrin posted a video on social media platform X, showing the jihadist group’s advance into the city:
Kurdish journalist Mirkhas Afrin at the frontline of Bachmra (Tal Rifaat region furthest point south; close to Anadan) monitoring the clashes between the Syrian regime and HTS https://t.co/uuhW981PJ1 pic.twitter.com/scv6DzgUm1
— ScharoMaroof (@ScharoMaroof) November 29, 2024
According to Kurdish commentator Scharo Maroof, HTS claims to have seized control of the ‘scientific research center’ of Aleppo, a well-defended strategic location which reportedly develops drones for Iran and the Syrian regime. The group also says that it has taken control of the villages of Qansa, Karatin and Khan Touman, According to Maroof, “HTS claims to be in complete control of Mansoura; entering the western gates of Aleppo and [is] clashing with the Syrian regime [forces] at the western gates of Aleppo in the Rashidun neighbourhood of Aleppo.”
Clashes between HTS and the Syrian regime continue.
– HTS claims to be in complete control of Mansoura; entering the western gates of Aleppo and clashing with the Syrian regime at the western gates of Aleppo in the Rashidun neighbourhood of Aleppo
– massive artillery barrages… pic.twitter.com/0L3NSrsFmt
— ScharoMaroof (@ScharoMaroof) November 29, 2024
Dicle: Self defence against HTS seems “inevitable”
Veteran Kurdish reporter Amed Dicle reported via X that HTS was in control of the Hemdaniye, Yeni Aleppo and Furqan neighbourhoods. According to Dicle, “It seems inevitable that the Kurds living in Aleppo will fight against the Turkish-backed groups with the Self-Defence Forces they have formed.”
“HTS’s attacks on Aleppo resembles the process of handing over Mosul to ISIS in the past. As seen in the digital media, HTS is applying the tactics of ISIS in the region,” Dicle argued.
Dicle came to a bleak conclusion about the probable consequences of the attack, he wrote: “Turkey aims to revive its failed Syria policy with the Aleppo attack. However, these strategies, which have backfired in the past, are unlikely to succeed a second time. Thousands of people will be massacred, tens of thousands will be displaced from their homes.”
