Idlib falls as rebels seize last major enclave from Assad
The Idlib province in Syria is now under the control of Islamist forces and rebels, making it the last major region outside the authority of the dictator Bashar al-Assad's government. It is also one of the regime's most significant losses in recent years.
The province of Idlib in northwestern Syria has been entirely taken over by Islamist forces and rebels. According to Reuters, it is the last major area of Syria not under Bashar al-Assad's government control.
Rebels announced the capture of the city of Maarat Al-Numan, signifying the takeover of the entire Idlib province. On Saturday morning, Islamist and rebel forces also took control of the largest districts of Aleppo, causing a massive exodus of residents towards the cities of Latakia and As-Salamiyah. The closure of the highway connecting Aleppo to Damascus further complicates the situation.
According to the AP agency, combatants encountered little resistance from the Syrian army in Aleppo, which is currently regrouping and preparing for a counterattack. Earlier, the government army admitted that "dozens of soldiers" had died in the fighting, and rebels entered Aleppo, which had been under government control since 2016.
Airstrikes in Aleppo
On Saturday, Syrian and Russian aircraft conducted airstrikes in Aleppo for the first time since 2016. Fighter jets bombarded the Al-Furkan district, located west of the city centre. The rebels entering Aleppo include groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Turkey-supported rebels from the Syrian National Army.
Since Wednesday, Islamist groups have taken over around 20 towns, including in the province of Aleppo, which remains mostly under government control. The Syrian conflict, ongoing since 2011, has claimed at least half a million lives. The government in Damascus, with support from Russia and Iran, has regained control over most of the country, but Idlib remains beyond its reach.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani assured that fighters are doing everything to ensure that civilians are not harmed in the fighting. Al-Julani, once one of the emirs of Al-Qaeda, has undergone a significant ideological transformation in recent years. He even allowed the opening of a church, which drew criticism from radical Islamists.
