### Fresh Wave of Fighting Erupts in Syria as Rebels Launch Surprise Offensive

In a startling turn of events, the long-standing Syrian civil war saw a dramatic escalation as rebels launched an unexpected offensive against government forces in the northwestern province of Aleppo. The rapid developments over the past three days highlight the continuing volatility of the Syrian conflict, despite a prolonged period of stagnation.

Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, head of policy for the Washington-based Syrian American Council, noted that these recent activities underscore President Bashar al-Assad's regime's vulnerabilities and tenuous hold on power. The conflict, which originated in 2011, has displaced nearly half of Syria's population and driven millions to seek refuge in neighboring countries such as Turkey and Lebanon, as well as further afield in Europe.

On Wednesday, various armed opposition factions coordinated a surprise attack reminiscent of the early days of the civil war. The rebels claimed to have seized several towns, neighborhoods, military bases, and weapons, and have called for government soldiers to defect. The offensive has already resulted in significant casualties, with the Observatory reporting over 250 combatants killed—more than 140 from rebel groups and 87 from government soldiers and Iran-backed forces.

The fighting intensified on Friday when anti-government fighters breached five neighborhoods in western Aleppo after deploying two car bombs targeting government troops. While specifics on casualties from these car bombings remain unclear, the White Helmets, a volunteer first-responder group operating in opposition-held areas, reported numerous civilian deaths and injuries due to government airstrikes.

Syrian state media alleged that government forces had successfully repelled the rebel advance, inflicting heavy losses on the opposition. However, these claims could not be independently verified, and the rebels did not immediately respond.

The opposition consists of multiple factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group formerly aligned with Al Qaeda, and Turkish-backed rebel groups. The rebels' stated objective is to halt airstrikes on opposition-controlled territories. Lt. Col. Hassan Abdulghany, the military commander of the opposition, emphasized that the offensive was a necessary response to ongoing attacks by regime forces and their allies, which include Iranian militias.

This new eruption of violence in Syria's protracted civil war comes at a time when Russia, a crucial military ally to Assad, is heavily preoccupied with its conflict in Ukraine. As events unfold, it remains evident that the Syrian conflict continues to simmer, far from being resolved.