Surprise offensive by rebels marks biggest challenge to Bashar al-Assad’s control in years
Islamist rebels once exiled to a mountainous pocket of the Syrian countryside now roam the streets of central Aleppo, taking pictures below its ancient citadel and tearing down symbols of President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.across north-western Syria appears to have dramatically shifted the balance of power in Aleppo, the country’s second largest city, and marks the most serious challenge to Assad’s control in years.
The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, is expected in Damascus on Sunday before travelling to Turkey, while Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation in Syria with his Turkish counterpart Hakkan Fidan in a phone call. Drevon pointed to the insurgents’ years-long efforts to formalise and hone their forces, allowing them to overwhelm far less organised Syrian government fighters. “I think the regime didn’t expect such a quick move, the operation started just a few days ago,” he said.
The sudden insurgent victory in Aleppo symbolised a dramatic shift in control of key urban centres in Syria, and an unexpected challenge to its president, who had long been seen as having crushed the uprising. Assad’s fractured control of the country had appeared secure enough that his former regional foes, notably Saudi Arabia, had begun to re-establish diplomatic relations with Damascus.
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