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| Russian strikes hit Aleppo as rebels take control | Russian strikes hit Aleppo as rebels take control |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rebel forces in Syria have taken control of the "majority" of the country's second-largest city, Aleppo, according to the UK-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). | Rebel forces in Syria have taken control of the "majority" of the country's second-largest city, Aleppo, according to the UK-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). |
| Russia launched air strikes in response across parts of Aleppo overnight into Saturday for the first time since 2016, the observers added. | |
| SOHR said more than 300 people - including more than 20 civilians - have been killed since the offensive started on Wednesday. | SOHR said more than 300 people - including more than 20 civilians - have been killed since the offensive started on Wednesday. |
| The offensive is the largest against the Syrian government in years and the first time rebels fighting the forces of President Bashar al-Assad have reached Aleppo since being forced out by the army in 2016. | The offensive is the largest against the Syrian government in years and the first time rebels fighting the forces of President Bashar al-Assad have reached Aleppo since being forced out by the army in 2016. |
| Syria's military confirmed on Saturday that rebels had entered "large parts" of the city and dozens of soldiers had been killed or injured in the fighting. | Syria's military confirmed on Saturday that rebels had entered "large parts" of the city and dozens of soldiers had been killed or injured in the fighting. |
| In a statement, it said troops had been withdrawn from Aleppo temporarily "to prepare a counteroffensive". | In a statement, it said troops had been withdrawn from Aleppo temporarily "to prepare a counteroffensive". |
| Aleppo's airport and all roads leading into the city have been closed, military sources told Reuters news agency. | Aleppo's airport and all roads leading into the city have been closed, military sources told Reuters news agency. |
| The rebels were able to capture the "majority of the city" without meeting significant resistance, the SOHR said early on Saturday. | The rebels were able to capture the "majority of the city" without meeting significant resistance, the SOHR said early on Saturday. |
| There was "no fighting" as Syrian regime forces withdrew, a spokesperson told the BBC. | There was "no fighting" as Syrian regime forces withdrew, a spokesperson told the BBC. |
| "The city council, police stations, intelligence offices - they are empty. | "The city council, police stations, intelligence offices - they are empty. |
| "This has never happened before". | "This has never happened before". |
| Rebels drive on the international M5 highway, a route into Aleppo, Syria | Rebels drive on the international M5 highway, a route into Aleppo, Syria |
| Earlier on Friday, government forces said they had regained positions in a number of towns in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, following the offensive launched by HTS and allied factions on Wednesday. | Earlier on Friday, government forces said they had regained positions in a number of towns in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, following the offensive launched by HTS and allied factions on Wednesday. |
| Video posted on a channel affiliated with the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) appears to show rebel fighters in vehicles inside the city. | Video posted on a channel affiliated with the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) appears to show rebel fighters in vehicles inside the city. |
| BBC Verify has geolocated the footage to a western suburb of Aleppo. | BBC Verify has geolocated the footage to a western suburb of Aleppo. |
| AFP said one of its reporters had seen "anti-government fighters" in front of the city's landmark citadel on Friday. | AFP said one of its reporters had seen "anti-government fighters" in front of the city's landmark citadel on Friday. |
| More than half a million people have been killed in the civil war that erupted after the government cracked down on pro-democracy protests in 2011. | More than half a million people have been killed in the civil war that erupted after the government cracked down on pro-democracy protests in 2011. |
| An array of armed groups opposed to the Assad government - including jihadists - took advantage of the turmoil to seize swathes of territory. | An array of armed groups opposed to the Assad government - including jihadists - took advantage of the turmoil to seize swathes of territory. |
| The Syrian government - with help from Russia and other allies - later retook most the areas it had lost. | The Syrian government - with help from Russia and other allies - later retook most the areas it had lost. |
| Idlib, the last remaining opposition stronghold, is mostly controlled by HTS, but Turkish-backed rebel factions and Turkish forces are also based there. | Idlib, the last remaining opposition stronghold, is mostly controlled by HTS, but Turkish-backed rebel factions and Turkish forces are also based there. |
| Syrian and Russian planes carried out 23 air strikes near Idlib on Friday, according to SOHR. | Syrian and Russian planes carried out 23 air strikes near Idlib on Friday, according to SOHR. |
| The UK-based monitoring group, which uses a network of sources on the ground in Syria, said four civilians were killed and 19 others were injured in the Russian strikes. | The UK-based monitoring group, which uses a network of sources on the ground in Syria, said four civilians were killed and 19 others were injured in the Russian strikes. |
| Russia's military said it had bombed "extremist forces", according to Russian news agencies. | Russia's military said it had bombed "extremist forces", according to Russian news agencies. |
| Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed his support for "the government of Syria to quickly restore order" and said the country's sovereignty was under attack. | Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed his support for "the government of Syria to quickly restore order" and said the country's sovereignty was under attack. |
| Rebels burning pictures of the Syrian president in Zarbah on the outskirts of Aleppo on Wednesday | Rebels burning pictures of the Syrian president in Zarbah on the outskirts of Aleppo on Wednesday |
| On Friday, a statement posted on a rebel-affiliated channel said: "Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo." | On Friday, a statement posted on a rebel-affiliated channel said: "Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo." |
| Videos verified by the BBC show armed men running in a street about seven kilometres (4.3 miles) from Aleppo's medieval citadel in the centre of the city. | Videos verified by the BBC show armed men running in a street about seven kilometres (4.3 miles) from Aleppo's medieval citadel in the centre of the city. |
| Another clip verified by the BBC showed large groups of people carrying luggage walking away from an area near Aleppo University. That video was recorded 3km away from a location where HTS-affiliated media claim rebel forces have entered the city. | Another clip verified by the BBC showed large groups of people carrying luggage walking away from an area near Aleppo University. That video was recorded 3km away from a location where HTS-affiliated media claim rebel forces have entered the city. |
| Aleppo resident Sarmad told AFP he could hear "the sounds of missiles and artillery shelling around the clock". | Aleppo resident Sarmad told AFP he could hear "the sounds of missiles and artillery shelling around the clock". |
| "We're scared that war will break out and we'll be displaced from our homes again," the 51-year-old said. | "We're scared that war will break out and we'll be displaced from our homes again," the 51-year-old said. |
| The rebel move on the city of Aleppo is a significant challenge to the authority of Syria and its ally, Russia | The rebel move on the city of Aleppo is a significant challenge to the authority of Syria and its ally, Russia |
| The UN’s deputy regional humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, David Carden, said he was deeply alarmed by the impact of the escalating hostilities on civilians. | The UN’s deputy regional humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, David Carden, said he was deeply alarmed by the impact of the escalating hostilities on civilians. |
| "Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as eight years old", he said. | "Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as eight years old", he said. |
| Fighting in Idlib had largely wound down since 2020, when Turkey and Russia, Syria's key ally, brokered a ceasefire to halt a push by the government to retake the province. | Fighting in Idlib had largely wound down since 2020, when Turkey and Russia, Syria's key ally, brokered a ceasefire to halt a push by the government to retake the province. |
| But on Wednesday HTS and its allies said they had launched their offensive to “deter aggression”, accusing the government and allied militias of escalation in the region. | But on Wednesday HTS and its allies said they had launched their offensive to “deter aggression”, accusing the government and allied militias of escalation in the region. |
| Analysts say one reason they advanced so quickly is because Syria’s allies, Iran and Hezbollah, have been weakened by Israeli attacks in the region. | Analysts say one reason they advanced so quickly is because Syria’s allies, Iran and Hezbollah, have been weakened by Israeli attacks in the region. |
| Additional reporting by Lina Sinjab in Beirut and Richard Irvine-Brown, Merlyn Thomas and, Sofia Ferreira Santos and Paul Brown in London. | Additional reporting by Lina Sinjab in Beirut and Richard Irvine-Brown, Merlyn Thomas and, Sofia Ferreira Santos and Paul Brown in London. |