What to know about shock offensive on Syria's largest city

Syrian rebels against the country's President Bashar Al-Assad advanced toward one of the largest cities in the country — the first time since 2016 — following a shock offensive launched by insurgents on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported on Friday.

The advances into Aleppo were led by various rebel factions including the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), The New York Times reported. The incursions on Wednesday mostly affected Syria's northwestern countryside as residents fled neighborhoods and dozens of fighters from both sides were killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, as reported by AP.

Much of the towns and villages in Aleppo's northern province, which were impacted by the advances, were controlled by al-Assad's government, backed by both Iran and Russia since 2016, Reuters said.

Though, AP reported that government forces or their allies did not appear to bring significant pushback following the recent incursions. Instead, reports described them as "melting away." Experts said the incursions show vulnerabilities in the Syrian government's forces and increasing capabilities from opposition, The New York Times said.

CNN reported on Friday that the rebels have captured roughly 60 towns and villages that were controlled by government forces.

Friday's incursion came after an artillery shell hit Aleppo University's student housing earlier in the day and killed four people, Syria's state news agency reported, per CNN.

The day before, at least 15 people, including women and children, were killed and three dozen more were injured following airstrikes and shelling in areas of Aleppo and Idlib that are rebel-held, according to a volunteer rescue group, CNN reported.

The beginning of the offensive, which began on Wednesday, reawakened a conflict that has been largely dormant since March 2020 when Russia and Turkey mediated a ceasefire in northern Syria, CNN reported.

The advancements come amid Syria's civil war, which began during the 2011 Arab Spring when the regime attempted to prevent a pro-democracy uprising against al-Assad. The rebel group Free Syrian Army emerged against government forces.

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