Major Syrian Army Offensive in Aleppo Supported by Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia

On Friday, October 24, the Syrian army, supported by Hezbollah militants from Lebanon, Iranian forces, and Russian airstrikes, launched a ground assault in the southern part of Aleppo city. This attack signifies that the Syrian army is increasing its pressure on armed opponents across multiple fronts near the country's major cities to expand its control over western regions, while the east remains under the control of Islamic State (ISIS) militants. Aleppo is the largest city and the commercial-industrial center of Syria, located near the Turkish borders. Control of this city, which still has over two million residents, is held by both government forces and opponents of the Damascus regime. Reuters reported, citing a Syrian military source, that hundreds of Iranian and Hezbollah fighters are supporting the Syrian army in this offensive. The source stated, "This is the promised war," and reported advances by the Syrian army in certain areas. It was noted that for the first time, Iranian military forces are participating in such numbers in the Syrian war, "although they remain very few compared to Syrian forces." The source emphasized that "the main force is the Syrian army." The Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar news network, which has supported the Syrian government during the civil war, also reported that the Syrian army has begun a major operation with the support of Russian fighter jets. This network did not mention the presence of Hezbollah militants. The Syrian state news agency (SANA) stated that the military has launched a significant operation against "terrorists and takfiris" in southern Aleppo. Previously, two regional sources told Reuters that thousands of Iranian forces have gone to Syria "to support ongoing operations in Hama province and prepare for operations in Aleppo." Iran claims to send weapons and military advisors to support its ally, the Assad regime, but denies sending troops. This comes after three senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers were killed in Syria last week, including Hossein Hamadani, a senior commander of the IRGC in Syria, who was reportedly killed near Aleppo. A Lebanese security source also stated that two prominent Hezbollah officers were killed in Syria last week. The Syrian army has "regained control of several villages." In another development related to Syria, Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told Reuters that heavy clashes are ongoing near the Jabal Azan area, 12 kilometers south of Aleppo. The Observatory, based in London, has a network of sources within the country. Abdulrahman added that the area targeted by the Syrian army and Russian fighter jets is near the highway connecting Aleppo to Damascus. He noted, "Government forces regained control of the village of Abtin and an armored vehicle base from the opposition." The head of the Syrian Observatory continued, "In the village of Al-Sabqiya, the opposition managed to destroy an army tank with an American TOW missile." A Syrian military source stated that most of the opposing fighters in the operational areas are from the groups Ahrar al-Sham, al-Nusra Front, Suqour al-Sham, and al-Sham Brigade. Fares al-Bayoush, commander of a group called "Brigade of the Knights of Truth," which is supported by the West and operates under the Free Syrian Army, announced that his forces sent more TOW missiles to the operational area to counter the ground assault. Al-Bayoush emphasized, "The war continues, but the resistance is stronger than the attack." Since October 8, coinciding with the start of Russian airstrikes against the positions of Bashar al-Assad's opponents, the Syrian army has also launched attacks on areas controlled by Western-backed opponents, including regions in northern Homs and the provinces of Hama, Idlib, and Latakia, which opposition fighters captured last summer. Moscow claims its airstrikes target the positions of the "Islamic State" and "other terrorists." However, according to internal sources and Western countries, it seems that most of Russia's attacks are against opponents who have made significant advances in northwestern Syria in recent months. The Syrian army also bombarded an opposition-controlled area in northern Homs from the air and artillery. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that at least 60 civilians were killed in these attacks, including 30 women and children. In response to these reports, Syrian state television quoted a military source in the country emphasizing that Russian and Syrian fighter jets do not bomb civilian areas. Assad's opponents claim that Syrian government forces have killed thousands of civilians, including with barrel bombs dropped by helicopters. There is a possibility of Russian missiles being launched from the Mediterranean Sea towards Syria. Meanwhile, a senior Russian official announced that the country might use its ships in the Mediterranean to launch missiles at the positions of the Islamic State militants in Syria. Previously, Russia fired nearly 30 cruise missiles from its warships in the Caspian Sea at extremist positions in Syria. These missiles passed through Iran and Iraq. General Andrei Kartapolov, a commander in the Russian army, responded to a question from a Kommersant journalist about the possibility of a missile attack from the Mediterranean Sea if necessary, saying, "We will undoubtedly do this." Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, stated on Friday that his country's airstrikes in Syria have resulted in the deaths of dozens of extremist militants. He also called for joint military cooperation among the countries of the former Soviet Union in Syria and Afghanistan to prevent potential extremist attacks on their countries. According to AFP, Putin, at a meeting of leaders of former Soviet Union countries in Kazakhstan, said, "The Syrian army has achieved very significant results from its attacks." He added, "Dozens of positions and important ammunition depots of terrorists have been destroyed, and hundreds of them have been killed." Putin did not provide further details, stating, "Russian airstrikes against the Islamic State and other extremists in Syria will continue throughout the Syrian army's operations." He continued that five to seven thousand militants from Russia and former Soviet countries are members of the "Islamic State." Putin emphasized, "We cannot allow them to use their experience in Syria in their own countries."