The unexpected offensive by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on Aleppo and their subsequent control of parts of the city—aside from the two Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods of Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud—marks a significant escalation in the Syrian conflict. The developments suggest an expansion of hostilities and the onset of a new phase in the protracted Syrian crisis.
This morning, news agencies reported the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had taken control of Aleppo’s airport. Other sources point to the withdrawal of Assad-aligned forces from both Aleppo and the Shahba region, with the SDF now deploying in these areas. Simultaneously, social media videos have surfaced showing Islamist groups entering the Iranian consulate building in Aleppo, underscoring the shifting dynamics on the ground.
Local sources in contact with Medya News highlight the fragility of the current situation, reporting sporadic clashes in the villages of Beneh, Harbel, Ain Dara, and Maranaz. These clashes, between the SDF and Turkish-backed terrorist groups, have thus far been limited in scope, with no large-scale assaults occurring.
In the north of Aleppo, along the Tal Rifaat frontline, ongoing skirmishes are reported between the Syrian National Army (SNA) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG) at Al Jijan village. Although clashes persist, they remain of a smaller scale.
Concurrently, as over 4,000 SDF troops entered Kurdish neighbourhoods in Aleppo—spanning Hanano, Tishreen, Khalidiyah, and Andalus in the city’s northern and eastern parts—reports emerged of dozens of casualties as Free Syrian Army forces clashed with pro-government forces.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported on 30 November that Kurdish forces had captured the city of Marat al-Numan in southern Idlib, effectively gaining control of the entire province of Idlib.
Rami Abdul Rahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), told Radio Farda that rebel groups had been preparing for this operation since September, though Turkey had previously hindered its execution.
The recent offensive in Aleppo represents a major shift in the balance of power within Syria, with HTS rebels making a stunning advance that has caught both the Assad regime and international actors off guard.
