Syria sends reinforcements to Aleppo region after surprise rebel attack

The insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took over most of Aleppo on Saturday in a surprise offensive and have now claimed to have entered the city of Hama. There was no independent confirmation of their claim.

Rebel commander Col. Hassan Abdulghani said separately the insurgents also took control of Sheikh Najjar, also known as the Aleppo Industrial City, northeast of the city, Aleppo’s military academy and the field artillery college to the southwest.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was due to travel to Syria's capital Damascus later on Sunday. He told reporters that Tehran will back the Syrian government and army.

The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syria’s President Bashar Assad and raises questions about his armed forces’ preparedness. It also comes at a time when Assad’s allies — Iran and groups it backs and Russia — are preoccupied with their own conflicts.

Syrian state television claimed government forces had killed nearly 1,000 insurgents over the past three days, without providing evidence or details.

Government airstrikes overnight on Idlib city, the rebel-held bastion near Hama province and 65 kilometre southeast of Aleppo, killed three civilians and wounded 54 others, according to the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, that operates in opposition-held areas.

It posted videos on X of the aftermath of regime airstrikes on Idlib city.

According to Syrian state news agency SANA and a war monitor, the army overnight pushed back insurgents in the northern countryside of Hama province.

Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that government reinforcements created a “strong defensive line” in the northern Hama countryside.