ALBAWABA - Friday marked a major push into Aleppo by the Syrian armed opposition, which captured the Military College and Artillery College in al-Zahraa. After fierce fighting with Syrian regime forces, the opposition took Saraqib in Idlib province and fully controlled Aleppo's western countryside.
Opposition fighters entered center Aleppo and took seven western neighborhoods. The opposition's military operations office reported that militants overcame regime defenses in Hamdaniya, New Aleppo, and al-Zahraa.
Opposition militants took the Scientific Research Center in New Aleppo, two kilometers from the city center. After a 36-hour fight, the rebels took over Aleppo's western countryside.
in Idlib province, the opposition announced the conquest of Saraqib, a crucial city at the confluence of the M4 and M5 highways that connect Aleppo to Latakia and Damascus. Battles over two days cost regime forces heavily, prompting their withdrawal.
Opposition organizations, notably Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and the Syrian National Army, claimed the control of 70 Aleppo and Idlib villages and localities, covering about 550 square kilometers. The opposition reported taking large amounts of weapons and detained regime soldiers.
At least 23 bombings by Russian and Syrian regime jets hit Idlib and neighboring villages. The Syrian Civil Defense claimed three civilian deaths and multiple injuries after an airstrike on an Idlib fuel station.
The Syrian regime said its forces were counterattacking and retaking positions. As regime forces tried to stop the uprising, Aleppo received reinforcements.
Russia called the events a violation of Syrian sovereignty and urged the Assad government to restore constitutional order. Iran blasted the assault and accused opposition groups of aiding Israeli and US destabilization.
With Moscow and Tehran supporting the Assad administration, the recent confrontations have escalated the 10-year Syrian conflict.
