Rebels Surprise

In one of the most important developments in the Syrian Civil War in the last ten years, the opposition launched a major offensive on Wednesday against government positions in the Aleppo region, routing both indigenous troops and foreign advisors from the frontline. Multiple opposition-aligned groups, like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, converged on the Bashar Al-Assad Army from two different directions, taking villages and highways, as well as four main military bases in a matter of hours. 

It is highly likely that the Syrian rebels will overrun the Syrian army in Aleppo, both in the city and the countryside, but doubts persist about their ability to hold the gained ground in the long run, as loyalist soldiers regroup in Hama for a possible counteroffensive. There is also uncertainty about the capacities of the Russian Special Forces (SSO) to influence the current momentum of the rebel advance in Aleppo.