Syrian Army Redeploys in Aleppo to Counter Takfiri Assault
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Syrian military announced a redeployment of forces in Aleppo on Saturday to fortify defenses and prepare for a counteroffensive against Takfiri militants who launched a surprise attack on government-held areas.
The Syrian military stated that the redeployment aims to absorb the ongoing assault, protect civilians and soldiers, and set the stage for a significant counterattack.
“The large numbers of terrorists and the multiplicity of battlefronts prompted our armed forces to carry out a redeployment operation aimed at strengthening the defense lines in order to absorb the attack, preserve the lives of civilians and soldiers, and prepare for a counterattack,” read the military statement.
The statement added that Takfiri militants, despite their offensive, had failed to secure fixed positions in Aleppo due to continuous bombardments by Syrian forces.
The army pledged to "expel them and restore the control of the state ... over the entire city and its countryside."
Syrian authorities previously reported inflicting heavy casualties on militants led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib.
Military sources cited by Reuters confirmed the closure of Aleppo airport and the cancellation of all flights on Saturday, as fierce clashes continued in and around the city.
The pro-government al-Watan newspaper reported airstrikes targeting militant supply lines near Aleppo. A video posted by the outlet showed a missile hitting a group of militants and vehicles. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that 20 militants were killed in the strikes.
Aleppo residents described intense fighting between government forces and militants, prompting some to flee their homes. While bakeries remained open on Saturday, schools and government offices were closed, according to Sham FM radio. Most residents stayed indoors.
In neighboring Hama, Syrian media denied reports of militant incursions into the city, emphasizing that security measures, including bolstering defensive lines, had been intensified.
“Syria continues to defend its territorial integrity and can eliminate terrorists with the help of its allies,” President Bashar al-Assad said during a call with the UAE’s President Mohamed bin Zayed. The UAE expressed solidarity with Damascus and affirmed support for Syria's anti-terrorism efforts.
The conflict escalated on Friday when HTS-led militants captured several villages in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside. State television confirmed that Russian airpower was aiding Syrian forces to repel the attack.
Since 2011, Syria has faced foreign-backed militancy, with Damascus accusing Western nations and their allies of supporting terrorist groups to destabilize the country. Israel, in particular, has been accused of backing militants opposed to President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
