Pro-Turkish Islamists and the Syrian opposition have launched a major offensive in northwestern Syria, capturing more than 50 towns and approaching the outskirts of Aleppo. This armed conflict, which experts call the largest in the past four years, is a result of the worsening situation in the region.

The offensive began in the middle of the week and covered an area of ​​about 400 square kilometers. Formally, the Free Syrian Army and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham groups, banned in Russia, explained their actions as a response to the recent bombing of the southern part of Idlib, which is under their control. However, as analysts note, the true goal of the operation may be related to Turkey’s attempt to restore the de-escalation zones agreed upon in 2019.

According to the Turkish Anadolu agency, the Islamists have already captured several military bases of the Syrian army and gained access to heavy weapons. The militants are publishing footage of captured equipment and killed Syrian officers on social networks. Turkish sources claim that the New Aleppo region has completely come under the control of the attackers.

Experts believe that the offensive was coordinated by Turkey, which is seeking to force Bashar al-Assad's government to sit down at the negotiating table. Ankara has repeatedly tried to establish dialogue with official Damascus, but the talks have stalled due to Syria's demands for a complete withdrawal of Turkish troops.

Interestingly, the operation was initially planned as a limited one, to stop attacks by the Syrian army. However, the poor preparation of Assad's troops and their retreat have expanded the scale of the offensive. Russian troops deployed north of Aleppo have already carried out airstrikes on militant-controlled targets, but the effectiveness of these actions is still questionable.

The situation is complicated by the weakening of Assad's key allies. Russia and Iran are unable to provide the same level of support due to internal and external challenges, and Hezbollah forces have reduced their presence due to Israeli military actions in Lebanon.

Turkey, for its part, officially declares its attempts to contain the escalation, but in reality, according to CNN analysts, its actions only increase tension. Ankara's desire to restore de-escalation zones coincided with the weakening of official Damascus's positions, which creates favorable conditions for military action.