A statement posted on a rebel-affiliated channel on Friday reads: “Our troops have begun to enter the city of Aleppo.”
Footage seen by the BBC shows armed men running on a street about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from Aleppo’s medieval citadel in the heart of the city.
Another video seen by the BBC shows many people leaving an area near the University of Aleppo with their luggage. The video was recorded 3km away from where HTS-affiliated media outlets claim rebels entered the city.
“I can hear missiles and shelling 24 hours a day,” Aleppo resident Sarmad told AFP.
“I am afraid that war will break out and I will be kicked out of my house again,” the 51-year-old said.
David Carden, the UN deputy humanitarian coordinator for Syria, said he was deeply alarmed by the growing hostilities against civilians.
“At least 27 civilians, including an 8-year-old child, have been killed in repeated attacks over the past three days,” he said.
Fighting in Idlib has declined significantly since 2020, when Turkey and Russia, Syria’s main allies, brokered a ceasefire to halt the government’s push to retake the region.
But on Wednesday HTS and its allies said they had launched an offensive to “deter attacks”, accusing the government and allied militias of expanding in the region.
Analysts say one reason they have advanced so quickly is because Syria’s allies Iran and Hezbollah have been weakened by Israeli attacks in the region.
