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Syrian rebels launched a large-scale offensive against government forces Wednesday, capturing strategic territory in the northern Aleppo province and marking the first significant flare-up between the two sides since 2020, as fighting in the country’s protracted civil war escalates once more, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The operation, named “Deterrence of Aggression”, targeted Syrian regime forces in western Aleppo and saw the rebels seize 13 villages, including Urm Al-Sughra and the strategically important Base 46, the largest military base in the region, according to opposition sources.

The offensive involved thousands of fighters from various factions, including the Free Syrian Army and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – a jihadist group that the United States has designated as a terrorist organization. Videos circulated online showed rebels celebrating in captured areas, but these claims have not been independently verified.

Rebel forces said they launched the offensive in retaliation for recent artillery shelling by the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to CNN.

By Thursday, fighters had advanced to within three miles of Aleppo city, prompting fears of escalating violence. The White Helmets, a Syrian volunteer civil defense group, reported that 12 civilians had been killed and dozens injured in government airstrikes and artillery fire, with hundreds of families displaced.

The death toll from clashes was reported to have exceeded 200 by Friday, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported.

Syrian state media has not provided details on the fighting, while pro-government sources mentioned the battles without specifying outcomes.

The conflict comes as Syria remains fragmented and unstable despite diminished fighting in recent years.

Analysts warn that the Assad regime – supported by Russian airpower and Iranian-aligned militias – is expected to mount a strong counteroffensive to reclaim lost territory.

Julien Barnes-Dacey of the European Council on Foreign Relations described the situation as indicative of Syria’s fragility.

“In essence, this is the story of Syria today: The regime has won the bigger picture civil war but remains broken, overstretched, and does not have the resources to maintain firm control over a still fragmented country,” he told the Journal.

Syria’s civil war began in 2011 following the Arab Spring uprisings across the region. The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of more than 300,000 civilians and displaced millions, according to the United Nations.

While Assad’s regime has regained control over most of the country, rebel groups continue to hold territory in the north, particularly in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. The Syrian leader has received international condemnation over alleged human rights abuses, including chemical attacks in cities, bombings of schools and hospitals, as well as widespread torture.

The offensive coincides with escalating regional tensions – Israel has intensified airstrikes in Syria, targeting Hezbollah supply lines, and tens of thousands of Syrian refugees in Lebanon have returned to Syria amid mounting violence.