Aleppo and Idlib, Syria (Agencies): A large-scale militant assault led by the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) has resulted in the deaths of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as eight, according to a UN official. The assault, which began on Wednesday, has seen militants overrun several areas previously controlled by the Syrian military, including parts of Aleppo.
The UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, David Carden, expressed deep alarm over the situation, emphasizing that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected under International Humanitarian Law.
In response, Syrian and Russian forces have conducted a series of airstrikes targeting HTS positions, resulting in the deaths of over 400 jihadists. The Syrian military has launched a counteroffensive to repel the militants, with intense fighting continuing in rural Aleppo.
The recent escalation has been described by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as an attack on Syria’s sovereignty, with hopes that the Syrian authorities will restore order swiftly.
The offensive began on Wednesday, the same day that a fragile ceasefire took effect in neighboring Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. By Friday, the militants and their allies had wrested control of more than 50 towns and villages in the north, including parts of Aleppo. The fighters advanced without significant pushback from regime forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that more than 14,000 people, nearly half of whom are children, have been displaced by the violence. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing clashes and airstrikes in the region.