In a rapid and unexpected turn of events, opposition fighters entered Aleppo on 29 November 2024, seizing Syria’s second‑largest city after the pro‑government army collapsed. The takeover did not result from a prolonged siege; instead, the regime’s forces, once noted for strict discipline, fell apart as opposition groups advanced.
The offensive began on 27 November 2024 with a limited push by the Military Operations Command, a coalition led by Hay’at Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS) and supported by Turkish‑aligned elements of the Syrian National Army (SNA). Initial targets were towns in the Idlib and Aleppo countryside, intended as a localized operation. However, government lines quickly gave way, allowing the attack to expand beyond its original scope.
Within days, dozens of villages and towns fell to the opposition, and the retreat of regime troops was chaotic rather than orderly. By the time HTS forces entered Aleppo, they had already secured a substantial portion of the city.
The speed of the advance underscores a rout rather than a measured advance, with pro‑government units dissolving, soldiers fleeing, and command structures breaking down. The coalition that captured Aleppo differs from the opposition that fought the regime five years ago. It includes HTS, which has consolidated power in Idlib, the Turkish‑backed SNA, and the American‑supported Syrian Free Army, which launched a separate offensive in the region.
Although these groups do not share a single command, they have moved in concert, applying coordinated pressure on multiple fronts. Aleppo holds significant strategic and symbolic value.
Its loss represents more than a tactical setback for Damascus; it challenges the regime’s narrative of inevitable victory and ongoing consolidation after years of portraying the war as winding down. The capture of the city in just two days marks a dramatic shift in the balance of power that had long been static, with the regime controlling major urban centers and the opposition confined to pockets in the northwest. Analysts note that the term “collapse” used to describe the pro‑government forces signals a systemic failure rather than an isolated defeat.
Units disintegrated, command hierarchies failed, and the army’s ability to regroup is uncertain. The opposition now faces the task of consolidating its gains while the regime evaluates the possibility of a counteroffensive.
While the offensive continues to evolve, the immediate picture is clear: opposition forces have seized Aleppo and possess momentum to push deeper into regime‑held territory. The regime’s grip on the rest of Syria is now in question, and the situation remains fluid as both sides assess their next moves.
