Turkish-backed rebels launch offensive against Russian forces in Syria

Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces launched a large-scale offensive against the regime of tyrant Bashar al-Assad near Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, on Nov. 27, Associated Press reports.

Both the Tehran and Kremlin-backed government, as well as Russian forces on the ground were caught off guard, resulting in significant losses in the surprise military operation. 

This marks the first large-scale military escalation in Syria in four years of the atrocitus bloody 13-year civil war that stemmed from a popular uprising during what was known as the Arab Spring in the Middle Eastern region. 

“Leveraging this advantage, opposition forces have advanced to within just a few kilometers of Aleppo,” notes Defense Express.

The opposition quickly captured up to 20 kilometers of front-line territory, liberating over 15 villages. The depth of their advance is estimated to be between 7 and 10 kilometers.

In retaliation, the Syrian army, with Russian air support, launched airstrikes on rebel positions. However, opposition fighters have effectively used man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), causing considerable losses to Russian aircraft.

The opposition forces have also taken prisoners and reportedly killed Russian special forces, including members of the Kremlin-controlled mercenary Wagner Group, who had been deployed in Syria under Assad’s agreement. 

Despite repeated attempts by Moscow to contact Ankara, Türkiye has remained unresponsive, according to Militarnyi, a Ukrainian media outlet.

The sudden offensive serves the strategic interests of both Türkiye and Israel. Regaining control of Aleppo, which the opposition lost in 2017 after intense fighting, would significantly weaken the Assad regime, which is heavily supported by Russia and Iran.

A former dentist, Assad’s dictatorship has prompted civil and human rights groups and the U.S. Congress to accuse him of multiple war crimes. He currently is under Western imposed sanctions. 

Russia’s backing of Assad is critical to maintaining its influence in the region, while Iran views Syria as a key asset in countering U.S. and allied interests.

The long-term objectives of the opposition’s offensive remain unclear, as does their capacity to sustain a prolonged campaign. Türkiye, while not directly involved in combat, is expected to provide logistical support to the rebels and further strain Assad’s military capabilities that are heavily reliant on Russian military support. 

Assad’s forces have been significantly weakened, particularly after losing a substantial number of Hezbollah fighters in clashes with Israel in Lebanon. Currently, his regime relies heavily on foreign pro-Iranian mercenaries and the Russian military contingent stationed in Syria.