"Syrian rebels retake Aleppo in surprise strike against Assad

A rebel commander said a fall in Iran-backed manpower created an opening this week's assault. Iran's ally Hezbollah has suffered big losses to Israel.

Rebel commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade Mustafa Abdul Jaber said the speedy advance was due to insufficient Iran-backed manpower in the broader province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war expanded to the Middle East.

Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence say Turkey had given a green light to the offensive.

The attack was the biggest since March 2020, when Russia and Turkey agreed to a deal to de-escalate the conflict. An estimated 600,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war, which started in March 2011." - excerpts

Syrian rebels reach central Aleppo as army announces temporary withdrawal

"The illusion of Assad's grip on Syria shatters, as Russia, Iran and Hezbollah let their guard down"

Analysis by Ben Wedeman, CNN
3 minute read
Published 3:17 PM EST

The obvious explanation is that Syria's key allies " Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah " are all under pressure and let their guard down.

Hezbollah " which played a key role in bolstering the regime during the darkest days of the civil war " pulled most of its troops back home after October 7, 2023, to fight Israel, which has subsequently killed most of the group's senior leadership.

Russia also played a key role in shoring up the government in Damascus after it dispatched troops and warplanes to Syria in September 2015.

Yet now Moscow's top priority is the war in Ukraine. And, finally, Iran's advisers and bases in Syria have been under frequent attack by Israel over the last year."

Hillary Clinton: I would have taken on Assad
Former presidential candidate says she pushed US to 'move aggressively' against Syrian regime in 2012

"I think it is concerning if some elements of the anti-Assad forces get their hands on sensitive sites in Syria. There have been reports that they have seized the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center, which is where Assad's chemical weapons program is housed among other military assets," Jason Brodsky, policy director for United Against Nuclear Iran, told Fox News Digital.

He continued, "Given the background of some of these groups which were formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda, it raises serious questions and could have implications for Israeli national security."

The government of Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly met on Friday night to discuss the latest news coming out of Syria."

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"Former President Barack Obama cut a widely criticized deal with Syrian regime dictator Bashar Assad in 2013 to remove his chemical weapons program. U.S. officials later said that Assad likely retained part of his chemical warfare apparatus.

Assad has repeatedly used poison gas on his population to dissolve the democratic revolt that unfolded against his regime in 2011.

There are currently about 900 American soldiers in Syria as part of a mission to defeat the Islamic State.

The U.S. military presence in Syria, according to Mideast experts, also helps to blunt the Iranian regime's attempts to absorb of parts of Syria.

The seizure of most of the two million-person populated city of Aleppo is a stunning military defeat for Assad and his allies, the U.S-designated terrorist movement, Hezbollah, Russia, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. "

#16

Vlad threatened to send them at Ukraine with the NKs if they failed!

"Russia says air force strikes rebels in support of Syrian army:

Report The strikes in support of Assad, a close Moscow ally, followed what was the boldest rebel assault for years in a civil war where frontlines had largely been frozen since 2020."