The jihadist group HTS and other armed allied factions control more than half of the Syrian city of Aleppo

Rebels claim to control Aleppo’s Great Mosque

Nov 29. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) and other armed allied factions control more than half of the city of Aleppo, capital of the homonymous province (north), after an offensive against large scale without resistance against Syrian government forces.

Armed rebels have claimed to have taken control of the Great Mosque of Aleppo and the historic citadel. Likewise, the militants have managed to enter Saadalá al Jabri Square, the most important square in the city, according to information collected by Al Jazeera.

The offensive was launched in response to the recent increase in bombing by Syria and Russia against rebel-held areas in the southern Idlib area and in response to Damascus’ increased military deployment near the front lines, in anticipation of a possible ground offensive in the area.