QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press)<\/strong> \u2013 Political and strategic researcher Brigadier General Khalil Helou stated on Thursday that the recent offensive in Aleppo\u2019s countryside, Northwest Syria, by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) is aimed at pressuring Syrian President Bashar Assad to curb Iranian influence in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Helou emphasized that the attack\u2019s objectives include disrupting Iran\u2019s weapons corridor to Hezbollah and signaling resistance to Tehran\u2019s role in the region. In an exclusive statement to North Press, he described the offensive as \u201csudden and swift,\u201d attributing its timing to multiple factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Helou identified three key factors influencing the timing of the attack:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Helou suggested that these dynamics created an environment conducive to the Syrian opposition\u2019s offensive, which serves as a coordinated message to Assad from various international and regional actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Helou downplayed Turkey\u2019s direct involvement, he acknowledged its indirect support for the SNA factions. \u201cTurkey may not have initiated the attack, but it certainly did not prevent it,\u201d he noted, adding that Ankara likely provided logistical support while benefiting from the operation\u2019s outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The researcher also pointed to alignment between U.S. and Turkish interests in the region, as both seek to curb Iranian expansion without outright destabilizing the Syrian government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He further commented on the potential weakening of Russian support for Syrian forces following the attack, which could limit the government\u2019s ability to mount an effective counteroffensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Helou highlighted that Russian air support, although present, has failed to deliver decisive results. Meanwhile, the Syrian Air Force\u2019s capabilities remain significantly limited compared to Russian forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He remarked that while the offensive is damaging for government forces, it also exposes the opposition\u2019s limitations in terms of personnel and equipment. \u201cThe opposition lacks the resources to expand further,\u201d he said, cautioning against overestimating their gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The attack reflects a complex balance of interests among regional and international powers. According to Helou, neither the U.S., Turkey, nor Arab states seek to overthrow the Assad government outright, as it serves as a buffer against extremist groups and mitigates direct threats to neighboring countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HTS and the SNA launched their offensive earlier this week, capturing key locations and reportedly advancing within kilometers of Aleppo city. Despite these gains, Helou predicted that neither side could achieve a decisive victory, maintaining the stalemate in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) \u2013 Political and strategic researcher Brigadier General Khalil Helou stated on Thursday that the recent offensive in Aleppo\u2019s countryside, Northwest Syria, by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) is aimed at pressuring Syrian President Bashar Assad to curb Iranian influence in Syria. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":118778,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military-developments","category-syria"],"yoast_head":"\nKey Factors Behind the Offensive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Turkey\u2019s Role and Regional Implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Impact on Airpower and Military Dynamics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Broader Strategic Context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reporting by Saad al-Yaziji<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Editing by Kardo Roj<\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"