On Sunday, December 1, 2024, Russian military bloggers reported that Moscow has dismissed General Sergei Kisel, who was responsible for Russian forces in Syria. This decision comes in the wake of opposition fighters capturing parts of Aleppo, marking the most significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years, according to Reuters.

The news of Kisel's dismissal, who is 53 years old, was initially reported by the Rybar channel, closely linked to the Russian Defense Ministry, and the military blog “Voenny Osvoboditel” (“Military Informant”). Russia has made several unannounced changes within its military ranks since the onset of the Ukraine war.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Colonel General Alexander Chiko will replace Kisel. Military blogs have previously criticized Kisel's performance, noting his past leadership of the First Guards Tank Army in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where Russian forces faced a swift counteroffensive from Ukraine in late 2022.

The blog Voenny Osvoboditel noted, "It seems he was supposed to reveal his hidden talents in Syria, but something hindered that again." Rybar commented, "A change in approach is needed. The Syrian battlefield has always been a place to rehabilitate the reputations of failed generals who proved incompetent in the special military operation."

Rybar also speculated that Russia might turn to General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" for his ruthlessness in Syria, who briefly oversaw military efforts in Ukraine before being demoted last year amid unconfirmed reports of an investigation into his alleged complicity in the Wagner Group's rebellion.

This marks the first significant advance by Syrian opposition forces since March 2020, when Russia and Turkey agreed to a ceasefire that halted military movements in northwestern Syria. Turkey supports the opposition forces.

On Sunday, the Syrian army announced that it had regained control of several towns overtaken by rebels in recent days. The opposition forces comprise a coalition of secular armed groups backed by Turkey and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group that represents the largest military force among the opposition.

The Assad government has maintained a tight grip on Aleppo since its victory there in 2016, when Russian-backed Syrian forces besieged and bombarded opposition-held areas of the city. This victory was a key turning point in the war.