Syrian Government Forces Rallying Following Unexpected Assault on Aleppo
Terrorist-led forces have spread throughout the city of Aleppo since launching a surprise Nov. 27 offensive.
Syrian government forces have announced a tactical retreat in the northeast Syrian city of Aleppo, as they reel from a surprise offensive launched by Sunni Islamist terrorists.
HTS is designated as a terrorist group by the United States and Russia. The Salafist Sunni Islamic faction formed from Jabhat al-Nusra, which itself began as a wing of al-Qaeda in Syria.
“The large numbers of terrorists and the multiple fronts of engagement prompted our armed forces to carry out a redeployment operation aimed at reinforcing defense lines to absorb the attack, protect the lives of civilians and soldiers, and prepare for a counter-offensive,” reads the translated Nov. 30 statement of the Syrian Defense Ministry.
The Syrian government said the HST-led offensive in Aleppo had intensified on Saturday, but government forces are continuing to put up fierce resistance. Still, the Syrian government acknowledged dozens of government troops have been killed and wounded in the attack on Aleppo.
While the HST-led forces are still spreading across Aleppo, the Syrian government forces said they’ve conducted intense strikes that have prevented the terrorists from being able to effectively entrench themselves within the city.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government said more of its forces are arriving to join in the coming counter-offensive in Aleppo.
It remains to be seen when this counter-offensive will emerge.
The recent attack on Aleppo is part of Syria’s ongoing civil war—a multi-sided conflict that has continued since 2011. The offensive marks a setback for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose forces had won control of the city in 2016 after a lengthy stalemate.
Russian forces, which have assisted Assad’s forces throughout the war, have reportedly conducted strikes to help stem the offensive across Aleppo.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.