Syrian rebels have reportedly breached the city of Aleppo itself, according to open-source analysts and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, as thousands of rebel fighters make stunning advances in a surprise offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in northwestern Syria.
Videos circulating online show rebels on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city. Three days ago the rebels launched a major offensive and since then they have been moving rapidly towards Aleppo, taking parts of the countryside and towns.
Syrian opposition fighters stand next to a government sign after entering the town of Anjara on November 28, 2024, on the western outskirts of Aleppo, Syria.
Omar Albam/AP
The offensive ignites the Syrian front line for the first time in years and appears to be fighting the Assad regime and its allies Russia and Hezbollah.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported heavy fighting between regime forces and rebels, led by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls rebel resistance in neighboring Idlib province.
A destroyed Syrian army tank stands in the town of Anjara, on the western outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, on November 28, 2024.
Omar Albam/AP
Although Syria’s civil war never ended, the fronts have been largely frozen for years as Russia and the regime continued to bomb rebel areas.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell and Victoria Beaule contributed to this report.
