Tue Dec 03 16:59:27 UTC 2024: ## Syria Sees Major Escalation in Violence as Rebel Offensive Shakes Assad’s Grip
**BEIRUT** – Syria is experiencing a dramatic surge in violence, marking the most significant escalation in years of ongoing conflict. Rebel groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Turkish-backed fighters, launched a major offensive last week, seizing control of Aleppo and pushing south towards Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city. Fierce battles are now raging in Hama province, with Syrian and Russian warplanes conducting airstrikes.
State media reported intense fighting between government troops and opposition groups, claiming government forces are holding their ground. However, the opposition claims to have captured 14 villages and towns, a claim supported by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This offensive represents the largest rebel advance in years, shattering a previously stable frontline.
The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the escalating violence, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling for an immediate ceasefire. The UN human rights office reports numerous civilian casualties, including women and children, from attacks by both sides. Hospitals, schools, and markets have been damaged, straining the already fragile healthcare system. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that Aleppo’s hospitals are overwhelmed by trauma cases.
The conflict isn’t limited to Hama. A new front has opened in northeastern Syria, where US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clashed with government troops near Deir Az Zor. The SDF claimed control of seven villages previously held by the Syrian army.
The renewed fighting has forced an estimated 50,000 people to flee their homes, adding to the immense human suffering caused by the decade-long conflict. The international community is facing renewed pressure to address the crisis, as Syria descends into yet another period of devastating violence.
First Piper 