Syrian rebels maintained control over the country's largest city, Aleppo, over the weekend while also advancing in the neighboring Hama province. The offensive marks the rebels' most significant gains against the Assad regime in years.
The rebels are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadi group formed as an al-Qaida affiliate in 2011 before splintering off and forging other alliances. Based in Idlib province, the group has largely failed to capture territory amid rebel group infighting and a 2020 ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey. The latest offensive in Aleppo, which began Wednesday, came as Israel is seen to have significantly degraded the capabilities of Hezbollah, long considered a dominant force in the region and a key Assad ally.
The Syrian army, supported by Russian jet strikes, launched a series of airstrikes yesterday in an effort to retake the city while also setting up a defensive line in Hama province. See war updates here.
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