Rebel forces have taken control of Syria’s second largest city, in a major escalation of the country’s 13-year-long civil war.
A coalition of armed anti-government groups have seized control of the city of Aleppo, located in northern Syria, for the first time since 2016.
The forces are opposed to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who’s ruled the country since 2000.
The conflict has drawn in multiple other countries, including Russia and Iran.
Syria civil war
Assad became President in 2000, succeeding his father Hafez Assad, who had ruled for 29 years. His Government receives military support from Iran and Russia.
Following peaceful protests against Assad’s government in 2011, known as the ‘Arab Spring’, the regime killed protesters and other civilians.
In response, then-U.S. President Barack Obama imposed financial sanctions on Assad’s government. The Arab League, a powerful regional bloc, removed Syria as a member.
The crackdown on protests expanded into widespread, years-long fighting between the Syrian military and anti-government forces.
The United Nations estimates that over 300,000 civilians were killed during the first 10 years of the conflict, and 12 million Syrians have been displaced.
Other estimates suggest as many as 600,000 civilians have been killed.
Latest
Fighting in recent years had largely stalled in Syria. Over the weekend, however, a coalition of anti-government forces launched a surprise offensive, clashing violently with Assad-backed forces.
The groups were led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham — an Islamist extremist organisation that Australia lists as a terrorist group.
The anti-government forces moved into Aleppo, capturing the airport, and Assad’s troops withdrew from the city.
In response, Russia conducted airstrikes on the city for the first time since 2016, in coordination with Syria’s military.
Russian and Syrian air attacks have also targeted the north-western rebel stronghold of Idlib, and Hama, closer to the capital city of Damascus in the south-west.
Syria’s defence ministry said it had reinforced its defensive positions near Aleppo as part of its preparations for a counter-attack.
The independent UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 412 people have been killed in this violence. The death toll includes around 60 civilians.
Response
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula said he was “gravely alarmed and concerned” about the escalation of violence in Aleppo.
More than 16.7 million people need humanitarian aid in Syria — roughly two-thirds of the population.
Abdelmoula said the attack over recent days “adds even more lives that now need to be urgently saved”.
