Anti-Assad rebels celebrate in front of the Aleppo Citadel in northwest Syria

The Russia-Iran-Assad “Axis of the Vulnerable” Is Cracking in Syria

Rebels Reclaim Syria’s Largest City Aleppo, Advancing on Hama

UPDATE 2149 GMT:

Defections of members from security apparatuses are reportedly occurring in Daraa Province in southern Syria. Mosques in several neighborhoods are calling on military and security personnel to abandon their posts.

Local factions in Daraa province gave the police officers at the Jasim city station two options: surrender weapons and stay or leave for military/security sites. They chose the latter.

— Abdo Jabassini (@syrianzo.bsky.social) December 5, 2024 at 8:17 PM

A scene on the streets:

Demonstration tonight in town of Maaraba, Dera'a, southern Syria, demanding the overthrow of the Assad regime

[image or embed]

— Leila (@leilashami.bsky.social) December 5, 2024 at 9:13 PM

UPDATE 2141 GMT:

Rebels are already moving from Hama towards Homs, 46 km (29 miles) to the south.

The offensive has reportedly captured Rastan. Claims are circulating that Russian warplanes blew up the viaduct on the M-5 highway, only 20 km (13 miles) from Homs, to prevent a further advance.

The moment the Rastan Bridge, connecting Homs to Hama, was reportedly targeted by Assad's forces in an effort to prevent rebel advancement, conflicting reports emerged, suggesting the strike has'nt damage the bridge.

If true, this would be a desperate measure by the regime.

[image or embed]

— Rami Jarrah (@ramijarrah.bsky.social) December 5, 2024 at 8:21 PM

Homs has a population of almost 800,000 and is a vital transit route between regime areas.

Rebels are also advancing in eastern Hama Province, taking regime armor and weapons.

UPDATE 2136 GMT:

Assad regime Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas says the retreat from Hama was “a temporary tactical measure”.

The Minister insisted that the regime’s armed forces are “in a good battlefield position”.

UPDATE 2130 GMT:

Celebrations in Hama city throughout the night:

UPDATE 1923 GMT:

A fourth Assad regime general, Yasser Mouna, has been killed in the rebel offensive.

Mouna, 56, was from the area of Qardaha in Latakia Province, Bashar al-Assad’s hometown.

UPDATE 1726 GMT:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on the Assad regime to enter negotiations with advancing rebels.

Erdogan said Turkey’s greatest wish is for Syria not to experience greater instability and civilian casualties: “The Syrian regime must urgently engage with its own people for a comprehensive political solution.”

UPDATE 1717 GMT:

China has advised its nationals to leave Syria.

The Syrian security situation has further deteriorated. The Embassy in Syria recommends that Chinese citizens…take advantage of the time when commercial flights are still in operation to return to China or leave the country as soon as possible.

UPDATE 1708 GMT:

Rebels have announced full control of Hama city, Syria’s fourth-largest with a population of almost 1 million.

The liberated areas include the nearby regime airbase, the fifth taken by the anti-Assad forces in eight days, and Qomhana, the heavily-fortified area to the north.

Another video of detainees, some imprisoned since the 1980s, freed from Hama Central Prison:

UPDATE 1503 GMT:

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says the Kremlin is “closely monitoring” events in Syria: “Depending on the assessment of the situation, we will be able to talk about the degree of assistance that is needed by the Syrian authorities to cope with the militants and eliminate this threat.”

UPDATE 1445 GMT:

Freed detainees from Hama Central Prison:

Hama Central Prison has been liberated. Thousands of political prisoners were held, tortured & killed here. Some since 'the events' in the 1980s
These are people the so-called left never raised its voice in support of – shame on them.

[image or embed]

— Leila (@leilashami.bsky.social) December 5, 2024 at 2:15 PM

Stunning images are emerging from Hama, as reports confirm the release of thousands of prisoners from Assad's dungeons.

Many were presumed dead, their survival unimaginable, yet now against all odds, they're free.

[image or embed]

— Rami Jarrah (@ramijarrah.bsky.social) December 5, 2024 at 2:03 PM

Journalists embedded with the rebels at a well-known site in Hama:

Syrian journalists covering the rebel advancement, pose for a photo now in front of the Water Wheels of Hama, following liberation of the city from Assad's power.

This is iconic.

[image or embed]

— Rami Jarrah (@ramijarrah.bsky.social) December 5, 2024 at 2:25 PM

And a reminder of Hama in summer 2011:

For those who don't know the significance of Hama falling to the rebels, this was Hama in 2011, when millions rose against Assad. They were quickly silenced by Assad's killing machine, these are the people who have just been liberated and this marks the end of the Assad regime.

[image or embed]

— Rami Jarrah (@ramijarrah.bsky.social) December 5, 2024 at 12:58 PM

UPDATE 1336 GMT:

Rebels have taken key regime positions within Hama city.

The fighters occupied the police headquarters and freed hundreds of detainees from the Central Prison.

The head of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham faction, Abu Mohammad al-Joulani, announced the liberation of the city.

The regime’s army acknowledged in a post, “To preserve the lives of the civilians of Hama and not to engage in fighting inside the cities, the military units associated with it have repatriated and deployed outside the city.”

UPDATE 1151 GMT:

In Aleppo city, rebels are implementing an amnesty for regime troops and security forces who have defected.

UPDATE 1143 GMT:

Rebels say they are fighting in neighborhoods inside Hama city.

UPDATE 0940 GMT:

Bashar al-Assad has ordered a 50% pay raise for career soldiers.

The increase is only for troops on active duty, not to reservists or veterans.

UPDATE 0924 GMT:

Syrian photojournalist Anas Alkharboutl, 32, has been killed by a pro-Assad airstrike in Hama Province.

Alkharboutl worked for Germany’s DPA. Editor-in-chief Sven Goesmann said:

All of us at DPA are in shock and deeply saddened by the death of Anas Alkharboutli.

With his pictures, he not only documented the horrors of war, but always worked for the truth. Anas remains a role model for our work.

Ali Haj Sleiman, a journalist who was with Alkharboutli, said warplanes were overhead in the Morek area, north of Hama city.

“We heard a very loud noise and started running, then the blast threw me to the ground,” Sleiman said. “I found Anas lying in his own blood….He had lost both his legs….He died in the ambulance before arriving at the hospital.”

UPDATE, DEC 5:

Rebels have surrounded Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city with almost 1 million people, on three sides.

With further advances on Wednesday, the anti-Assad groups are within 3-4 km (1.9-2.5 miles) of the city.

The offensive has captured the base of the Assad regime’s 87th Brigade just outside Hama.

UPDATE 1943 GMT:

Analyst Charles Lister says the rebel offensive was planned for mid-October, but was then blocked by Turkey.

The analyst says the decision to launch the offensive was made November 25, two days before the first movement of Operation Deter Aggression. He does not explain if Turkey — frustrated by the Assad regime’s unwillingness to negotiate over the future of northwest Syria — lifted its objection.

Lister says the rebel coalition, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, included 10 groups, two affiliated groups, and four units of Albanian, Turkish, Uighur, and Uzbek. fighters.

In the initial phase of the attack, three locally-engineered cruise missiles were fired at regime frontline positions. THey were followed by several swarms of suicide drones and shelling, paving the way for ground assaults.

Inside Aleppo city, sleeper cells were activated. As well as attacking regime checkpoints, they struck an emergency meeting of senior commanders from the regime, Iran, and Russia. Among the six people killed was Iran Brig. Gen. Kiomars Pourhashemi.

UPDATE 1929 GMT:

Abu Mohammad al-Joulani, the leader of the Islamist faction Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, has visited the Aleppo Citadel.

The 12th-central Citadel was taken over by rebels as they liberated Aleppo city last week.

Joulani said:

All armed fighters, including from HTS, will be directed to leave civilian areas in the coming weeks, and bureaucrats will be invited to resume their jobs. And the distinct social and cultural norms of the city, Muslims and Christians in all their diversity, will be respected.

HTS is even considering dissolving itself in order to enable full consolidation of civilian and military structures in new institutions reflecting the breadth of Syrian society.

UPDATE 1921 GMT:

Rebels have captured the headquarters of the Assad regime army’s 25th Division Special Forces, commanded by Suhail Hassan.

Hassan was named the commander of the regime’s northern front only two days ago, an attempt to boost morale as the military tried to establish defensive lines in northern Hama Province.

Past video of the training ground of the 25th Division:

UPDATE 1056 GMT:

Photos of Assad regime armored vehicles being moved into northern Hama Province to try and hold a defense line:

UPDATE 1019 GMT:

“Two people familiar with the matter” have described a tense visit by Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara on Monday.

Having just seen Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Araghchi accused Turkey of enabling the rebel offensive in northwest Syria.

Turkish officials had expected Araghchi to deliver a message from Damascus seeking a diplomatic solution. But “he didn’t bring anything from Assad,” said one source.

Instead the Foreign Minister charged Turkey with betrayal, reiterating that Iran will back Assad under any circumstances.

On Tuesday, Araghchi said Iran will consider deploying troops to Syria if Damascus requested it.

Tehran has put commanders and special forces in Syria since 2012, as well as backing thousands of foreign militiamen, to prop up the Assad regime. However, the Islamic Republic has portrayed the deployment as “military advisors”, rather than troops.

Fidan denied support to the rebels and said Assad and Iran have failed to participate genuinely in peace negotiations for years. He chided Iran for seeking external scapegoats while Assad continues to oppress Syrians.

At the joint press appearance with Araghchi, he said of the line:

This is a mistake and a refuge for those unwilling to understand the realities in Syria.

Ignoring the legitimate demands of the opposition and the regime’s refusal to engage genuinely in the political process were grave errors. The recent widespread attacks on civilians have reignited the civil war. We had repeatedly warned all relevant parties about this.

Speaking by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “The Syrian regime must engage in a genuine political process to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.”

UPDATE 0952 GMT:

One week after the launch of the offensive by Syrian rebels, Russia has expressed its support of the Assad regime.

“We strongly condemn this attack….There is no doubt that they would not have dared to commit such an audacious act without the instigation and comprehensive support of external forces that seek to provoke a new round of armed confrontation in Syria, unfurl a the spiral of violence,” declared Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

UPDATE 0938 GMT:

A third Assad regime general has been killed by the rebel offensive in northwest Syria.

Brig. Gen. Walid Said, from Latakia Province, was slain by a drone strike.

UPDATE 0812 GMT:

Briefing the UN Security Council, Raed al-Saleh, the director of the White Helmets civil defense, spoke of airstrikes by Russia and the Assad regime on civilian areas in Idlib Province, knocking four hospitals out of service.

The Syrian regime and Russia killed 25 civilians, most of them children, and wounded 66 others. It is a day I will never forget. I will never forget the faces and looks of the children after the Syrian regime’s warplanes targeted their tents in a camp near Idlib.

While describing the mass killing and appealing to the Security Council for the observation of international humanitarian law, al-Saleh concluded:

My final message to you and to the world: Syrians in Damascus, Aleppo, Daraa, Sweida, Idlib, the coast, the Jazira, Homs, Hama still long for freedom, change and the chance to build a dignified, peaceful country, united as Syrians under a national identity. They will never stop calling for justice and accountability.

UPDATE, DEC 4:

A reunion in Aleppo:

UPDATE 1820 GMT:

Rebels have announced the capture of Jebal Kafraa, one of the two mountains protecting the city of Hama.

Mount Zin Adidin and the town of Qomhana, where the rebel offensive was blocked in 2017, are the remaining Assad regime positions before the city.

UPDATE 1758 GMT:

In an airstrike near Damascus, Israel has killed Hezbollah’s liaison with the Assad regime’s army.

The Israel Defense Forces said Salman Jumaa. enabled weapons to be transferred to Hezbollah in Lebanon via Syria. He was “in close contact” with senior Assad regime officials.

Jamaa was previously the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence in the Khiam area of southern Lebanon, and then head of operations in Damascus.

UPDATE 1751 GMT:

Under pressure from the rebel advance in northwest Syria, Vladimir Putin has told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by phone that there needs to be a “speedy end to the terrorist aggression against the Syrian state by radical groups”.

Putin appealed that support must be provided to “legitimate authorities” to restore order in Syria, “in particular, using Ankara’s existing capabilities in the region”.

UPDATE 1729 GMT:

The Islamist faction Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham has begun installation of new mobile phone towers in Aleppo through the contractor Syria Phone.

Rebels have announced a total amnesty for Assad regime army soldiers, police, and security personnel in Aleppo if they submit paperwork to receive official clemency and identification cards.

UPDATE 1724 GMT:

Col. Hasan Abdulghani claims rebels have taken control of another 14 villages and towns in the Hama region, including al-Rahjan and Maar Shahour.

“Our forces continue to advance from several fronts in all directions,” he claimed.

UPDATE 1703 GMT:

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR says Russia is sending mercenaries to Syria to reinforce its troops.

“Moscow’s leaders decided to send mercenaries from ‘private military companies’ to the Middle Eastern country to help them. The arrival of fighters – probably from the so-called ‘Africa Corps’ – is expected,” the HUR declared in a statement.

The agency continued, “The Syrian government army and Russian military units are suffering significant losses, fleeing their positions, abandoning weapons and equipment. The retreat is chaotic.”

UPDATE 1657 GMT:

The UN says almost 50,000 people have been displaced by airstrikes and fighting since the end of November.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it documented “a number of extremely concerning incidents resulting in multiple civilian casualties, including a high number of women and children”.

UPDATE 0901 GMT:

War monitors have confirmed that Russian forces are involved in the bombing of hospitals in Idlib and Aleppo Provinces.

The Russian warplanes were tracked from their takeoff from the Hmeimim airbase to their targets.

At least five medical facilities were attacked across Idlib on Monday, and Aleppo University Hospital was struck on Sunday.

A journalist reports from the site of destruction of civilian apartments:

In the aftermath of an entire residential block in Idlib being levelled to the ground, journalist Ahmad Rahhal has this to say:

"they ask why the Syrian people oppose both Israel and Iran.. this is why…"

[image or embed]

— Rami Jarrah (@ramijarrah.bsky.social) December 2, 2024 at 1:13 PM

UPDATE 0853 GMT:

Rebels have advanced overnight in northern Hama Province, entering towns such as Helfaya, Maardes, and Taybat Imam.

They are reportedly in Khattab, less than 7 km (4.3 miles) from Hama city.

UPDATE, DEC 3:

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces say they have taken control of seven villages in Assad regime territory in Deir ez-Zor Province in eastern Syria.

The SDF portrayed the takeover as a step against the Islamic State, which still has active cells in Syria, but Arab tribes in the area have sought to push back the regime.

Iranian State media are unsettled by the development, headlining, “US-Backed Militants Opening Up New Anti-Damascus Front in Eastern Syria”.

UPDATE 1726 GMT:

Despite the Assad regime establishing defense lines in northern Hama Province, rebels have reportedly advanced in at least six locations between Karkat and Kernaz.

UPDATE 1721 GMT:

The first death of a Hezbollah commander during the rebel offensive has been reported.

Qassem Dulani was slain in Aleppo Province.

UPDATE 1714 GMT:

Having struck Aleppo University Hospital on Sunday, the Assad regime has reportedly attacked at least five medical facilities — including the Idlib University Hospital — in Idlib Province today.

At least three civilians were killed, including two whose ventilators stopped.

Aleppo’s largely-Christian Sulaymaniyah district has also been struck.

UPDATE 1636 GMT:

Vladimir Putin has spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian about the situation in Syria.

Russian State media gave no details beyond “the main focus is on the aggravated situation in the Syrian Arab Republic”. They declared, Large-scale aggression by terrorist groups and gangs is assessed as aimed at undermining the sovereignty, political and socioeconomic stability of the Syrian state.”

Iranian State media quoted Pezeshkian, “We believe that the recent incidents are part of a dangerous plan by the US and the Zionist regime to disrupt the region’s political geography in favor of the Zionists.”

UPDATE 1629 GMT:

Two “Iraqi security sources” say at least 300 fighters, largely from the Iran-backed Badr and Nujabaa militias, crossed into Syria from Iraq late Sunday.

The fighters used a dirt road to avoid the official border crossing.

Assad regime officials earlier declared that “fresh reinforcements” were coming from the militias to help embattled regime forces in the northwest.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi implied on Monday that Tehran was despatching its militias. He said tht while the Assad military was capable of confronting rebels but “resistance groups will help and Iran will provide any support needed”.

Share

UPDATE 1110 GMT:

Speaking alongside Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Ankara, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called on the Assad regime and opposition to compromise.

Fiden said Turkey, supporting Syria’s territorial integrity, would be willing to foster discussions.

UPDATE 1043 GMT:

Assad regime military officials say Iran-backed militias have entered from Iraq and are heading to defense lines in northwest Syria.

“These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the frontlines in the north,” a “senior army source” said.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said Tehran’s troops — “military consultants” — remain in Syria “at Damascus’ request”.

Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said:

We all have come to the conclusion that any sort of insecurity in Syria won’t be limited to Syria alone. We are all aware of the fact that terrorism would not be concentrated in a single place and spreads to other areas.

He appealed to Ankara, who backs anti-Assad movements in northwest Syria, “Our Turkish friends are as much concerned as we are about the course of developments in Syria.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: On the fifth day of their offensive, rebels consolidated their liberation of Syria’s largest city Aleppo.

Meanwhile, Bashar al-Assad — trying to show he is still in control of a fractured country — hosted the Foreign Minister of Iran, who alongside Russia is keeping him in power.

Anti-Assad forces completed their stunning takeover of Aleppo, with almost 2.1 million people, by moving into three Assad regime military and security bases on Sunday. They also took over the Kuweires Military Airbase, 30 miles east of the city, with its Soviet-made helicopters and L-39 warplanes.

The Turkish-backed rebels also reportedly occupied areas of Aleppo Province which have been held by the mainly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. They included Tel Rifaat, a town 40 km (25 miles) north of Aleppo city.

Turkey considers the SDF to be part of the Turkish Kurdish insurgency PKK, which has fought with Ankara’s security forces for almost 40 years. However, there were no reports of clashes, indicating the Kurdish forces had withdrawn peacefully.

Rebels also regained parts of Idlib Province held by the regime, enabled by Russia and Iran, since 2019. Among them is Khan Sheikhoun, the site of an Assad regime attack with sarin nerve agent which killed around 90 people and wounded hundreds in April 2017.

Assad regime forces scrambled to establish defense lines in northern Hama Province, south of Idlib. They have reportedly reclaimed the town of Suran, albeit with heavy casualties.

Among those slain was the head of the Assad regime’s Military Security Branch in Hama city, Brig. Gen. Adi Ghosa, killed by a drone strike.

The regime continued its airstrikes on civilian areas. The White Helmets civil defense reported more casualties in and near Idlib city, with attacks on camps for displaced persons.

Resident Maribelle Haddad reported strikes on sites opposite Aleppo University hospital:

The joint aircraft is committing real massacres among us….Why are you bombing us? We’re civilians and you’re bombing civilians and massacring civilians.

Assad’s Pose for the Cameras

Bashar al-Assad re-emerged on Saturday night, following a reported emergency trip to Moscow, with phone calls to Arab leaders appealing for support.

On Sunday he welcomed Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Syrian and Iranian State media gave no details of the discussion. Instead, they featured Iran’s propaganda lines that “the recent terror acts in Syria are part of a plot hatched by enemies of stability and security in the region”, including the US and Israel.

Araghchi “expressed confidence that Syria, like in the past, will also this time manage to defeat terrorist groups”.

Iran’s Press TV added that Assad “commended Iran’s strong stance on support for the stability and security of the countries in the region, particularly Syria, in their battle against the vicious phenomenon of terrorism”.