Reuters: Syrian Army Ordered To Retreat From Country's Second-Largest City

• 30.11.2024, 12:18

Turkey may approve the rebels' entry into Aleppo.

On Saturday, November 30, the Syrian authorities closed the airport of Aleppo, the country's second largest city, and ordered to block all roads leading to the settlement. The army was also ordered to follow “safe retreat” orders from major areas of the city, Reuters. reported.

Three military sources told reporters that these decisions are related to the entry of rebels in Aleppo. It is noted that they could already reach the city center.

The sources shared with journalists that Russia promised to provide additional military assistance to the Syrian authorities to suppress the rebels. According to them, new equipment will begin to arrive within the next 72 hours.

The agency recalled that the rebels launched an offensive on the city on Wednesday, November 27, and by the evening of Friday, November 29, the operational headquarters representing the offensive reported that they had captured various areas of Aleppo.

In 2016, the Syrian army, together with the Russian Federation, Iran and the regional Shiite militia, recaptured the city from the rebels, journalists stressed. Since then, the rebels have agreed to retreat.

The agency added that, according to Mustafa Abdul Jaber, commander of the Jaysh al-Izz rebel brigade, their rapid advancement was facilitated by the lack of Iranian-backed manpower.

The rebels said that their operation to capture Aleppo was a response to the frequent attacks on civilians by the Russian and Syrian Air Forces in Idlib areas in recent weeks. According to sources associated with Turkish intelligence, Ankara gave the "green light" to the offensive.

However, Turkish Foreign Ministry speaker Öncü Keçeli said his country was keen to avoid greater instability in the region and condemned the rebels' actions, the agency said.