Syrian revolutionary factions, under the Command of Military Operations (CMO), have achieved significant territorial gains and strategic victories as the Repelling the Aggression campaign enters its third day. The broad military offensive, launched Wednesday in response to escalating Assad regime and Iranian militia attacks on civilians in northern Syria, has delivered rapid progress on multiple fronts.
On Thursday, the second day of operations, revolutionary forces expanded their control over critical villages and towns in the western Aleppo and eastern Idlib countryside. Notable gains include the capture of Babis, Bashqatin, Bashantra, Mizaz, Kafr Dael, and Kafr Halab. The factions also secured Al-Zarba and Khan Al-Asal, enabling them to sever the M5 international highway connecting Aleppo to Damascus.
In addition to these territorial gains, forces captured the Administrative Affairs Block, the Alam Al-Seher node, the Al-Raqem hill, and key residential associations, including Al-Rahhal and Al-Kahraba II, in western Aleppo. The offensive has reportedly pushed the vanguard of revolutionary factions to the outskirts of Aleppo City, with regime positions inside the city targeted for the first time since the operation began.
“This preemptive strike aims to disrupt the plans of Iranian-backed militias and allow displaced civilians to return to their areas,” said Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesperson for the CMO.
The campaign has inflicted significant casualties and equipment losses on Assad regime forces and allied militias. According to the Military Operations Department, over 200 regime forces have been killed, including 13 officers, with hundreds more wounded in the past 48 hours. Additionally, 26 personnel have been captured.
Revolutionary fighters also managed to capture significant military equipment, including 13 tanks, three mortar launchers, and five BMP infantry fighting vehicles. They secured a Kornet anti-tank missile warehouse and five 23mm anti-aircraft machine guns. These seizures highlight the operational success of the revolutionary factions in disarming and debilitating regime forces.
Beyond the captured equipment, the factions also destroyed two helicopters and two tanks, further weakening the Assad’s firepower and aerial capabilities. The campaign additionally seized four field cannons, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery vehicles, and a munitions warehouse, degrading the ability of the regime and its allied militias to attack the people of the liberated areas.
The Repelling the Aggression campaign has employed advanced tactics, including the use of first-person view (FPV) drones and intensive artillery barrages, targeting key regime and militia positions. Military sources report that the operation has disrupted supply chains and forced regime forces into retreat, enabling the operation to maintain momentum across multiple axes.
These battles come in the wake of unrelenting attacks by Assad regime forces and Iranian militias that have displaced thousands of civilians in northern Syria. The campaign aims to halt these displacements and provide a measure of safety for liberated areas, particularly as winter exacerbates the region’s humanitarian crisis.
As the revolutionary factions consolidate their gains and continue their advance, the Assad regime and its allies face mounting challenges. The severing of the M5 highway represents a major logistical and strategic blow, complicating the regime’s ability to resupply and reinforce its forces in Aleppo and beyond. With battles reaching the outskirts of Aleppo City, the coming days may determine whether the coalition can sustain its progress and capitalize on early successes in this unprecedented offensive.
