SNA announces launch of “Dawn of Freedom” offensive in Aleppo
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), announced on Saturday the launch of a military operation in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo under the name “Dawn of Freedom,” claiming control over 75 percent of its rural areas.
In a statement, the SNA said that the operation aims to liberate areas held by the Syrian government forces and Iranian militias.
Since Nov. 26, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, once known al-Nusra Front) and SNA factions have gained significant territorial territories in the southern and eastern countryside of Aleppo, as well as in the east of Idlib.
As part of the operation, the “Dawn of Freedom” Operations Room reported capturing the villages of Tuman, Abu Taltal, and al-Shumawiya in the countryside of al-Bab, east of Aleppo.
Meanwhile, the HTS and SNA factions announced full control over the city of Maarat al-Numan in the south of Idlib.
Earlier on Saturday, HTS seized villages in the eastern Idlib countryside. A source told North Press that the group also captured the town of Telminnes in eastern Idlib, previously under Russian control.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Ministry of Defense confirmed that opposition factions seized large parts of Aleppo city. This escalation coincides with joint Syrian-Russian airstrikes targeting opposition-controlled areas in southern Idlib countryside.