A fighter inspects a seized Syrian Army rocket launcher in the district of Khan al-Assal which was taken over by Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city on Saturday, three military sources told Reuters, as rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo. The Syrian army has been told to follow "safe withdrawal" orders from the main areas of the city that the rebels have entered, three army sources said. The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air force on areas in rebel-held Idlib, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army. Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkey, which supports the rebels, had given a green light to the offensive.

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Persons: Bashar al, Assad, Mustafa Abdul Jaber, Oncu Keceli Organizations: Syrian Army, Jihadists Locations: Khan, Turkish, Aleppo, Russia, Damascus, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Russian, Idlib, Syrian, Turkey