Syria and Russia Intensify Air Strikes to Halt Opposition Progress

Syrian and Russian air forces have significantly intensified their bombing campaigns in Idlib and Aleppo as the government of President Bashar al-Assad works to slow the rapid progress of opposition forces.

These airstrikes on Monday came in response to major territorial gains by the opposition over the past few days, which have substantially shifted the front lines in Syria’s ongoing civil war. A coalition of Syrian opposition groups, primarily led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has made significant advances, although reports indicate that their momentum has slowed somewhat in the past 24 hours. Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from the Turkish-Syrian border, stated that while the opposition continues to make headway on the battlefield, their pace of advancement has decreased. “The advances by the Syrian opposition continue on the battlefront, but not as fast as before. The acceleration has slowed as diplomatic efforts to address the crisis have increased in the last two days,” Koseoglu explained.

Despite this slowing of momentum, opposition fighters continue to push forward and are reportedly on the outskirts of Hama, located to the south of Aleppo. In another key development, opposition forces have gained control of most of the city of Tel Rifaat, a strategically important area where Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are now calling for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor. The SDF is urging that the corridor be used to safely evacuate Kurdish civilians from the conflict zone.

Meanwhile, a senior member of Syria’s opposition has vowed to continue the fight until the Syrian government agrees to a political transition. Opposition leader Hadi al-Bahri, speaking from Istanbul on Monday—during the sixth day of an aggressive rebel offensive that resulted in the expulsion of Syrian government forces from the city of Aleppo—declared, “We are ready to negotiate starting tomorrow.” This statement suggests that, while the opposition is willing to discuss a resolution, they will not cease their military campaign until there is progress toward a political shift in Syria.

In response to the growing opposition momentum, reports indicate that dozens of Iran-backed militias from Iraq crossed into Syria overnight to reinforce the Syrian military. These reinforcements, entering in small groups to avoid air attacks, are aimed at shoring up the defenses of the Syrian government forces. A senior Syrian military source, speaking to Reuters, confirmed that these fresh reinforcements were sent to bolster Syria’s northern defenses. Additionally, Iran has indicated its ongoing support for the Syrian government by planning to maintain military advisors in the country. This was confirmed by Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Syria’s key allies, Russia and Iran, have continued to provide substantial backing to President al-Assad’s regime. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed his country’s full support for Syria in a phone call with al-Assad, pledging to supply all necessary resources to help push back the opposition forces. This pledge of support was echoed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who visited Syria and then traveled to Ankara, Turkey, where he met with officials from the Turkish government, which supports one of the opposition factions. In his statements, Araghchi emphasized the need for cooperation and diplomacy in the region. He noted that despite some disagreements with Turkey, Iran hopes to reach a common understanding that will bring stability to the region and prevent Syria from becoming a haven for terrorist groups again.

The heightened airstrikes and military reinforcements come as both sides in the conflict brace for the next phase of this ongoing war. Despite the slowdowns in the opposition’s advance, Syria’s northern regions remain hotly contested, and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. The fighting has exacerbated an already dire crisis, with many civilians caught in the crossfire and in desperate need of aid.

The situation remains fluid as the opposition forces press forward and as Russia and Iran intensify their support for al-Assad’s government. As military actions escalate and diplomatic efforts unfold, the battle for Syria’s future remains unresolved, with no immediate end in sight.