More than 130 people have been killed in clashes in northern Syria between Syrian forces and jihadists, according to the latest toll released today by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The NGO reported an “operation” launched against areas near Aleppo controlled by the Syrian government.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Ministry of Defence stated that it is countering a “major attack” that is still ongoing.
Jihadists from the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, launched an “operation” yesterday, Wednesday, targeting territories held by the Syrian regime in Aleppo province, near the Idlib border, according to the Observatory.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence noted that HTS jihadists and their allies began a “widespread offensive along a large front using a significant number of terrorists and heavy weaponry to target villages, communities, and military positions.”
The clashes, which occurred approximately seven kilometres from Aleppo city, the provincial capital, have resulted in 132 deaths, including 65 HTS jihadists, 18 fighters from allied groups, and “49 members of regime forces,” the Observatory reported.
These are described as “the most violent clashes” in years in this region, where Aleppo province and its surroundings—controlled by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad—border the last major stronghold of rebels and jihadists in Idlib, the NGO noted.
The Observatory also reported that jihadists have captured villages in the western part of Aleppo province and sections of Idlib province under Syrian government control.
Fighting is also raging near a highway linking Aleppo to the capital Damascus, as jihadists aim to disrupt traffic on this critical route, the source added.
Turkish security sources indicated that rebel groups in northern Syria launched an operation following attacks by Syrian government forces in the Idlib de-escalation zone. The operation expanded after government forces withdrew from their positions.
According to these sources, the rebels have remained within the boundaries of the Idlib de-escalation zone established in 2019 by Russia, Iran, and Turkey.
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Source: ANA-MPA
