ALBAWABA - On Sunday, Syrian opposition troops seized strategic regions from Kurdish forces, expanding their hold on the Aleppo countryside.
Russian and Syrian military responded by launching more intense bombings on opposition strongholds, which caused deaths. President Bashar al-Assad called the opposition "agents of external agendas" and pledged to crush them.
In parallel, the Syrian National Army began an offensive known as "Dawn of Freedom," which was aimed at Kurdish-held regions east and north of Aleppo.
Opposition forces declared that they had taken Tel Rifaat, a key city north of Aleppo that had been ruled by the Kurds for many years, as part of the "Dawn of Freedom" campaign. Following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces, fighters were seen rejoicing in the city in pictures posted by opposition media.
Kurdish fighters fleeing Aleppo with their weapons were offered safe passage by the opposition. They have also made progress by seizing major arteries like the Aleppo-Damascus and Aleppo-Gaziantep highways, as well as important military installations like the Kuweires Airbase and the officers' housing complex in the southern countryside.
The rebels asserted complete authority over Idlib and assured displaced inhabitants that they will soon be allowed to return.
Russian and Syrian jets stepped up their attacks on regions controlled by the opposition in retaliation. Since the opposition took power, Aleppo has been the target of airstrikes, which have killed dozens of people. Media activists Ahmed Al-Omar and Alaa Al-Abrash were killed in strikes on districts such as Jamiliyah, Azamiyah, and Sadallah Jabiri Square, according to Al Jazeera.
Four people were killed and numerous others were injured when airstrikes struck residential areas and camps for displaced civilians in Idlib. According to medical officials, a marketplace was also struck, resulting in extensive damage.
"Terrorism only understands the language of force," said President Assad in a statement to the interim leader of Abkhazia. No matter who supports it, we will destroy it.
