The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched heavy artillery strikes on the positions of the terrorist Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the towns of Bara, Deir Sinbal, and Maarbalbeit in southern Idlib. Additionally, Syrian artillery shelled HTS and Ansar al-Tawhid militants in the villages of Mishik, Qarqur, and Khirbat al-Naqous in the Ghab Plain area, west of Hama.

Intense airstrikes and rocket bombardments, considered the most aggressive in years, were carried out by the Syrian Army and its allies. The attacks targeted the supply lines of HTS and the Turkistan Islamic Party on the fronts of Darat Izzah and Qubtan al-Jabal in western Aleppo. Violent clashes also erupted between Syrian forces and the militants across several axes.

Syrian warplanes further struck militant positions east of Atarib in the western Aleppo countryside. The clashes began after the Syrian army detected militant movements and attempted infiltration into one of its positions at the Qubtan al-Jabal axis.

In response, the armed factions grouped under the banner of Operations of the Open Conquest in northwestern Syria and declared the launch of a military operation named "Operation Deterrence of Aggression" on Wednesday. The factions stated that the operation aims to "break the enemy's plans by delivering a well-calculated preemptive strike on its positions."

Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesperson for the operations room, emphasized on X that the Syrian government's military buildup poses a threat to the security of the "liberated areas". He claimed that it was the factions' duty to defend civilians from the imminent danger targeting their existence and safety.

In October, a joint Russian-Syrian air campaign carried out strikes on HTS positions in Idlib and Latakia provinces, targeting military training sites, warehouses, and an underground tunnel near the town of Benin in the Jabal al-Zawiya area.

Turkey resorts to proxy confrontations to achieve diplomatic gains

Field sources reported that since the Turkish-backed National Army militia participated in the battle alongside HTS, this reflected clear Turkish support for HTS—designated as a terrorist organization—to secure any gains on the frontlines after Turkey's failure to achieve political advancements in its relations with the Syrian government.

The sources further noted that Turkey aims to leverage this support to pressure the Syrian government into entering new negotiations to normalize relations with Ankara.

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On the battlefield, clashes are ongoing, with no clear indication of control gained by the armed groups. These groups have attempted to claim swift victories through social media platforms, but Syrian military sources have denied these claims, confirming that battles continue to fully repel the attack.

Additionally, sources in Idlib told Al Mayadeen that HTS has directed all hospitals in the city and northern countryside to suspend non-essential surgeries for civilians and prioritize treating injured militants until further notice.

Heightened aggressions within Syria

A rocket attack carried out by militants from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) struck the city of al-Bab in eastern Aleppo on Sunday, leaving one person dead and injuring more than ten others, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Syria reports.

Al-Bab is under the control of the so-called "National Army", a Turkish-backed faction.

The attack has heightened tensions in northern Syria, with "National Army" militants responding by imposing restrictions in nearby cities under their control.

Authorities announced a ban on gatherings in Azaz and Afrin, fearing potential shelling by SDF forces.

Both cities are located in the northern countryside of Aleppo, which has seen periodic clashes between rival factions.