BEIRUT — On Saturday, Aleppo experienced a notable influx of Syrian insurgents, who arrived in vehicles modified with makeshift armor, making their way toward significant landmarks, including the historic citadel. This movement followed their relatively unchallenged entrance into Syria’s largest city the day before, as reported by local inhabitants and combatants.

Witnesses noted that late Friday, two airstrikes targeted the outskirts of Aleppo, aimed at insurgent reinforcements and alarmingly close to residential areas. A monitoring group reported that these strikes resulted in the deaths of 20 insurgents.

In a statement released on Saturday, Syria’s military acknowledged the insurgents’ control over substantial parts of Aleppo but asserted that they had not yet established permanent bases or checkpoints. To respond to the broad offensive, the military announced plans to redeploy forces to save lives and prepare for a potential counteroffensive.

Insurgents were spotted near the police headquarters and the Aleppo Citadel, where they removed posters of Syrian President Bashar Assad, some of which were trampled and others set ablaze.

This unexpected takeover represents a significant blow to Assad, who had successfully regained full control of Aleppo in 2016 after driving out insurgents and many civilians from the eastern districts during a fierce military campaign bolstered by Russia, Iran, and allied forces.

Since then, Aleppo had remained largely free from opposition forces. The 2016 battle marked a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict that began with protests against Assad’s regime in 2011 and escalated into a full-scale war.

The recent offensive into Aleppo followed weeks of escalating minor violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which supports Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to halt these government offensives, which were viewed as violations of a 2019 agreement brokered by Russia, Turkey, and Iran aimed at stabilizing the conflict.

This military advance coincided with Iranian-affiliated groups, particularly Hezbollah from Lebanon, being preoccupied with their own conflicts. A ceasefire in Hezbollah’s recent conflict with Israel took effect on Wednesday, coinciding with the declaration of the opposition’s offensive. Additionally, Israel has intensified its attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian-affiliated targets in Syria over the last 70 days.

Insurgents raise flag over Aleppo Citadel

Witnesses reported that government forces were still stationed at the city’s airport and a military academy, though most had retreated from the southern parts of Aleppo. Meanwhile, Syrian Kurdish forces maintained their presence in two neighborhoods.

The military emphasized that this redeployment is a temporary measure, assuring that the central command and armed forces remain dedicated to ensuring the security and well-being of Aleppo’s inhabitants.

In Saadallah Aljabri Square, opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo shared his feelings, stating it was his first return to Aleppo in 13 years, recalling the loss of his older brother at the onset of the conflict. “God willing, we will liberate the rest of Aleppo province from government control,” he asserted.

On Saturday, the city center saw light traffic, and although opposition fighters fired celebratory shots into the air, there were no visible clashes or signs of government troops.

Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher who left Aleppo in 2016, returned the previous night after learning of the insurgents’ presence. He expressed a whirlwind of emotions, feeling both sorrow and nostalgia as he walked through the city. “As I entered Aleppo, I kept repeating to myself, ‘This is unbelievable! How did this happen?’” He recounted his nighttime stroll around the citadel, where insurgents proudly displayed their flags, as well as visits to the university and other significant sites.

“I walked through the empty streets of Aleppo, shouting, ‘People of Aleppo, we are your sons,’” Alhamdo shared in a series of messages with The Associated Press.

The insurgents initiated their surprise offensive in the Aleppo and Idlib regions on Wednesday, swiftly gaining control of numerous villages and towns before entering Aleppo on Friday.

Pro-government outlet Al-Watan reported airstrikes targeting rebel supply routes on the outskirts of Aleppo, releasing footage of a missile strike hitting a gathering of fighters and vehicles on a tree-lined street.

City hospitals are full

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 20 fighters, while residents reported ongoing clashes and gunfire, prompting some to flee the violence.

On Saturday, schools and government offices were closed as many residents opted to stay indoors, according to reports from Sham FM, a pro-government radio station. However, bakeries remained open. Observers noted that insurgents had deployed security personnel throughout the city to prevent violence and looting.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that Aleppo’s airport has been closed, halting all flights. On Friday, both of the city’s main public hospitals were reportedly at capacity, with many private medical facilities having shut down, according to OCHA.

Social media showed insurgents congregating outside the historic Aleppo Citadel and interacting with locals, assuring them of their safety and their intent to avoid causing harm.

The Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria reported that nearly 3,000 individuals, mainly students, had fled to their regions to escape the violence in Aleppo, which has a considerable Kurdish population.

State media revealed that several “terrorists,” including sleeper cells, had infiltrated parts of the city. Government forces are actively pursuing and apprehending individuals who posed for photographs near well-known city landmarks, as reported by state outlets.

During a Saturday morning talk show, commentators criticized Turkey for allegedly supporting the insurgents’ advance into Aleppo and Idlib provinces, asserting that reinforcements from the army and assistance from Russia would be essential in repelling these “terrorist groups.”

According to Russia’s state news agency Tass, Oleg Ignasyuk, a Russian Defense Ministry official overseeing operations in Syria, claimed that Russian airstrikes had targeted and killed 200 militants involved in the offensive in the northwest on Friday, although further details were not disclosed.