Syrian Military Withdraws Troops from Aleppo

The Syrian military has announced a temporary troop withdrawal from Aleppo following a surprise offensive by rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), marking the first significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years. This week, the insurgents managed to enter large parts of the city, prompting the military to regroup and prepare for a counteroffensive amid reports of dozens of soldiers killed or wounded in recent clashes. The military stated that the insurgents have not yet established fixed positions in Aleppo due to ongoing bombardments. Russian air support has also been deployed to aid Syrian forces against the insurgents. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the rebel attack, calling it a violation of Syria's sovereignty and expressing support for Assad's regime. This escalation comes after years of relative stability in the region since 2020, challenging the longstanding status quo.