Syria: Russia Strikes Aleppo As Rebels Seize Airport, Govt Centres & Prison

Syria: Russia Strikes Aleppo As Rebels Seize Airport, Govt Centres & Prison

In Syria, rebels opposing President Bashar al-Assad swept into Aleppo and seized its airport, government centres and prisons, said the war monitor. The rebels also took charge of dozens of towns around Aleppo. The offensive marked the return of rebels to Aleppo after Assad and his allies forced them out in 2016. The offensive was launched on November 27 by the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) group, led by the former Syria branch of Al-Qaeda. As rebels advanced, the Syrian army pulled out from the fourth largest city Hama, said the war monitor. According to reports, Syria lost 100 security personnel while rebels lost 183 men in the fight. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed to defeat the "terrorists". In response, Russia launched airstrikes on Aleppo targeting Turkey-backed rebels, marking its attack on the city since 2016.