### Syrian Insurgents Seize Control of Aleppo Amid Minimal Resistance

In a swift and unexpected advance, thousands of Syrian insurgents have taken control of significant parts of Aleppo, facing little resistance from government forces. According to residents and fighters, the insurgents, equipped with improvised armored vehicles and pickups, have spread out across the city, occupying landmarks such as the historic Aleppo Citadel by Saturday.

Multiple airstrikes targeted the edge of the city late Friday, aiming at insurgent reinforcements and hitting near residential areas. According to a war monitor, these attacks resulted in the deaths of 20 fighters. On Saturday, Syria’s armed forces issued a statement indicating they had redeployed to absorb this large-scale attack and were preparing for a counteroffensive. The statement acknowledged the insurgents’ entry into large parts of Aleppo but denied they had established significant bases or checkpoints.

Witnesses reported insurgents positioning themselves outside police headquarters and other key locations, including the Aleppo Citadel. They were seen tearing down and burning posters of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The takeover marks a significant and embarrassing setback for Assad, who regained full control of the city in 2016 after a grueling campaign supported by Russia, Iran, and allied groups.

The insurgent push into Aleppo followed weeks of escalating violence, including government bombardments on opposition-held areas. Diplomatic efforts by Turkey, a backer of Syrian opposition groups, failed to prevent these attacks, which breached a 2019 agreement to halt the conflict lines, sponsored by Russia, Turkey, and Iran. The offensive coincided with a ceasefire between Lebanon's Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group supporting the Syrian government, and Israel, which took effect on Wednesday.

In Aleppo, insurgents celebrated with gunfire into the air, but the city center saw light traffic and no signs of government troops. Opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo expressed hope for complete liberation of Aleppo province from government forces upon his return to the city after 13 years. Another returnee, teacher Abdulkafi Alhamdo, described mixed emotions and disbelief as he walked through the city he fled in 2016.

Reports suggest that the insurgents launched their offensive on Wednesday, quickly capturing villages and towns in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside before entering Aleppo itself on Friday. Pro-government Al-Watan newspaper documented further airstrikes targeting rebel supply lines on the city’s edge.

The insurgents have taken measures to maintain order, deploying security forces to prevent incidents of violence or looting. Despite the unrest, certain services like bakeries remained operational. The U.N. confirmed that Aleppo’s airport had been shut, and flights suspended.

Residents, particularly students, have fled the fighting, with nearly 3,000 arriving in Kurdish-led areas in the east. Government claims pointed to the arrest of “terrorists” posing for pictures near city landmarks, while state TV commentators emphasized forthcoming army reinforcements and Russian support to repel the insurgents.

Russian state news agency Tass cited a Defense Ministry official stating that Russian airstrikes killed 200 militants who had spearheaded the offensive, although no additional details were provided.