Syrian militants, led by terror outfit Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), under the “Deterrence of Aggression” coalition, have captured Aleppo, the country’s largest city, and all of Idlib province in a dramatic campaign against regime forces.
This marks a significant turning point in Syria’s long-running civil war.
After seizing Aleppo International Airport and Kuweires military airbase, the militants have advanced south, nearing Hama. Key towns such as Halfaya, Morek, Kafr Zita, and Qalaat al-Madiq have fallen to opposition forces, pushing Assad’s army to retreat and regroup.
The Assad regime has redeployed troops, including elite units under Suhayl al-Hasan, to fortify Hama’s defenses. Meanwhile, Iran and Russia—Assad’s staunch allies—have ramped up support, with Russian airstrikes killing 18 civilians in Idlib over the weekend.
This offensive has reignited active conflict in Syria, with militants factions citing regime shelling of civilian areas as their catalyst. Regional tensions are also rising, as Iraq reinforces its border to prevent cross-border militant infiltration, and Iran’s foreign minister visits Damascus to reaffirm support for Assad.
The situation underscores the fragile and volatile state of Syria’s civil war, now entering a new phase of intensified fighting.
