Idlib, Syria – On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, the Military Operations Administration in Idlib announced the commencement of a large-scale military operation named "Deterring Aggression." This offensive follows recent attacks by the Syrian regime and Iranian militias targeting civilian areas in northwestern Syria.

The operation is being conducted on two fronts: the western countryside of Aleppo and the eastern countryside of Idlib, according to the Military Operations Administration, which is managed by a coalition of armed factions.

In the first front, opposition forces successfully captured more than 32 sites, including villages, towns, and military points in western Aleppo, with the notable capture of "Fouj 46," a significant military site and a critical defensive position for Aleppo, now approximately 10 kilometers away from opposition forces.

In eastern Idlib, the opposition launched an offensive on the city of Saraqib, located on the vital Damascus-Aleppo highway, and announced control over the village of Dadikh and the surrounding hill overlooking the international road.

The administration reported the deaths of dozens of Syrian regime forces during the clashes and the acquisition of heavy equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles, and medium weapons.

Meanwhile, Syrian regime forces and Russian aircraft targeted various areas in northwestern Syria, including Sarmin, Idlib, Ariha, and Darat Izza.

According to the Military Operations Administration, the objective of this operation is to facilitate the return of approximately 100,000 displaced persons to their homes in areas controlled by Iranian militias.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deaths of around 100 members of the Syrian regime and affiliated factions, including Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, in the Aleppo countryside.

The Observatory stated that the operation, launched with the support of "National Army factions," resulted in the deaths of 44 members of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and 16 from other factions. It also confirmed that 37 members of the Syrian regime were killed, including at least four officers of varying ranks.

The Observatory noted that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions continued their advance in western Aleppo, capturing 21 villages and towns within less than 12 hours of the operation's start amid intense fighting with regime forces.

Additionally, regime aircraft conducted over 30 airstrikes targeting civilian and military sites in the "Putin-Erdoğan" zone.

For years, opposition factions have controlled limited areas in northwestern Syria, primarily dominated by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. These areas have no significant commercial or humanitarian outlets except for the Turkish border.

Despite having several border crossings and internal routes, civilians find it challenging to escape to other regions during military escalations due to checkpoints and shifting control between warring parties.

Since 2020, the control boundaries among Syria's influential factions, including opposition groups in the north and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast, have remained largely unchanged.

Although Ankara and Damascus have recently taken steps towards dialogue, no results have emerged, primarily due to the Syrian regime's insistence on the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syria.