In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict in northern Syria, opposition factions have launched the 'Deterrence of Aggression' battle, advancing towards the outskirts of Aleppo. This operation, primarily led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, aims to diminish the influence of the Syrian regime and Iranian militias in opposition-controlled areas, particularly in Idlib and Aleppo. Mustafa al-Bakour, a leader in the Army of Glory, emphasized the need to eliminate threats posed by these forces to civilian populations. While the operation's ultimate goal of capturing Aleppo remains ambiguous, it is clear that the military factions are intent on securing their territories from repeated attacks by regime forces.
The dynamics of this military campaign are influenced by Turkey's support for the opposition, which is believed to stem from agreements made with Russia in 2019 regarding de-escalation zones. Wael Alwan, a researcher at Josoor for Studies, noted that Russia's involvement has been minimal thus far, suggesting a potential shift in strategy as the situation evolves. The opposition's actions seem to be a direct response to the perceived failure of the Syrian regime and its allies to adhere to previous agreements, thus prompting a renewed offensive in the region.
