### Renewed Airstrikes Hit Aleppo Amid Rebel Offensive

In a sharp escalation of violence, Russian and Syrian warplanes have resumed bombing operations in Aleppo for the first time since 2016. This surge in airstrikes follows a fresh offensive by rebel forces that has dramatically altered the control landscape of Syria's second-largest city.

Rebel factions, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), surprised government forces on Saturday by seizing large parts of Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, reported that the rebels also captured the crucial Aleppo international airport, marking the first time such a facility has fallen under insurgent control.

The Syrian military announced a strategic "temporary troop withdrawal" from Aleppo to prepare for a counteroffensive. According to their statement, this maneuver came after significant casualties in the recent skirmishes, with dozens of soldiers killed. The withdrawal has enabled the rebels to capture numerous towns in the Hama and Idlib provinces, securing them with little resistance.

Civilian casualties have also risen alarmingly. A monitor reported that at least 16 civilians were killed and 20 others injured in airstrikes targeting civilian vehicles at a roundabout in Aleppo. The United Nations estimates around 14,000 people have been displaced, fleeing towards Latakia and Salamiya due to the fighting.

As Russian forces confirmed their involvement in the airstrikes supporting Syrian troops, the Assad regime continues to rely on its allies to reclaim territory. This recent bout of violence exacerbates an already dire situation in Syria, where a brutal civil war has claimed numerous lives since 2011.

In a related development, Iran has condemned a recent attack on its consulate in Aleppo. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei blamed "terrorist elements" for the assault, confirming that all consulate staff were unharmed.

The renewed fighting disrupts a period of relative calm in the long-running Syrian conflict, underscoring the fragility of peace in the region. With rebel forces gaining ground and government troops preparing to counterstrike, the fate of Aleppo and its residents hangs in a precarious balance.