A radical Islamist group launched a significant military incursion against Syrian regime forces in northwest Syria, marking the largest attack since 2020. This action prompted Russian and Syrian warplanes to retaliate by bombing the insurgent offensive.
The rebels, led by the U.S.-designated Islamist terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, targeted a dozen towns and villages in northwest Aleppo province, which is under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
Simultaneously, a ceasefire agreement was reached between Assad's ally, the Lebanese-based terrorist organization Hezbollah, and Israel, ending over 14 months of conflict.
The conflict in Syria involves various state-sponsors of terrorism, including Assad's regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and a Turkey-backed Islamist terrorist movement. The Russian regime, led by Vladimir Putin, has faced accusations of war crimes during its invasion of Ukraine.
Experts have noted that Putin's actions in Syria are part of a strategic move to counter U.S. interests, particularly in response to recent developments in Ukraine. The escalation in Syria is seen as a way for Putin to exert pressure on the U.S. administration.
An Israeli expert on Russia highlighted the reliance of Assad's army on Russian air power in combating groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria.
Reports from Iranian state media confirmed the death of IRGC Brigadier General Kioumars Pourhashemi in Aleppo during the incursion. Pourhashemi was a senior IRGC military adviser in Syria.
The Islamist rebels justified their campaign as a response to increased strikes on civilians by Russian and Syrian air forces in southern Idlib. They also aimed to preempt any potential attacks by the Syrian army, which they claimed was amassing troops near rebel-held territories.
Since the beginning of the conflict in 2011, Assad's brutal crackdown on dissent has led to the deaths of over 500,000 people. Iran has played a significant role in supporting Assad's regime by deploying thousands of fighters, including members of the IRGC and Shi'ite militiamen from various regions.
According to Turkish security sources, the rebel offensive initially began as a limited operation in response to attacks by Syrian government forces but expanded as government troops withdrew from their positions.
