IDLIB, Syria (North Press)<\/strong> \u2013 Russian and Syrian airstrikes, along with heavy shelling, struck multiple areas in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo, Northwest Syria, on Thursday, causing significant casualties among civilians and opposition fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The escalation came as a response to a major offensive launched earlier this week by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) against government-held positions in Northwest Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A North Press correspondent reported that Russian warplanes and Syrian government aircraft targeted residential neighborhoods and marketplaces in western Aleppo and eastern Idlib Governorates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HTS and the SNA initiated a shock campaign against Syrian government forces earlier this week, capturing key locations, including the strategic towns of Kafr Naha and Khan al-Assal, in western Aleppo. The opposition factions have claimed to be advancing toward the outskirts of Aleppo city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conflict has displaced hundreds of families from affected areas, adding to the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The M5 International Highway, a key economic and logistical route connecting Aleppo to Damascus, was cut off during the offensive, further escalating tensions and disrupting transportation and trade in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The intensifying violence in Northwest Syria underscores the fragile and volatile nature of the ongoing Syrian conflict, with Russian airpower playing a decisive role in countering the opposition\u2019s advances. The humanitarian toll of these clashes has drawn international concern, with calls for de-escalation and renewed dialogue among the conflicting parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IDLIB, Syria (North Press) \u2013 Russian and Syrian airstrikes, along with heavy shelling, struck multiple areas in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo, Northwest Syria, on Thursday, causing significant casualties among civilians and opposition fighters. The escalation came as a response to a major offensive launched earlier this week by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":118791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military-developments","category-syria"],"yoast_head":"\nCasualties and Damage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Key Strikes and Impact:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Military Casualties:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Background of the Offensive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regional Implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reporting by Mo’ayed al-Sheikh<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Editing by Kardo Roj<\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"