The map is changing in Syria, and Russia did not answer the question "Where is Assad?"

In response to the attacks by Bashar al-Assad's regime in northern Syria, the operation initiated by armed opposition groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continued to make progress on its third day yesterday. It was reported that the opposition gained control in the outskirts of Aleppo, specifically in Rashidin, while Russian forces in the area withdrew. It was also stated that Shiite groups affiliated with Iran and units of the Syrian army were preparing for urban warfare in Aleppo.

"THE JUGULAR VEIN HAS BEEN CUT"

In a statement from the Aleppo Military Operations Administration, it was announced that the neighborhoods of El-Hamdaniye and New Aleppo on the outskirts of the city had been liberated. On the other hand, the capture of the junction around the Serakib district, where the M5 and M4 highways connecting the north of the country to the capital Damascus and the coastal city of Latakia to the country's second-largest city, Aleppo, converge, was interpreted as cutting off the jugular vein of the Assad regime. Following the start of the operation, a statement from Ankara indicated that the operation targeting Aleppo was within the borders of the de-escalation zone in Idlib, agreed upon by Russia, Iran, and Turkey in 2019. However, the developments yesterday are considered to have exceeded the limits of the agreement reached in Sochi, suggesting that the balance of power in Syria will be reshaped.

THEY ARRIVED IN 72 HOURS

The operation launched by opposition groups in the western countryside of Aleppo on Wednesday yielded results beyond expectations, and the fact that they reached Aleppo in as little as 72 hours indicated a weakening of the regime's presence in the region, along with that of Iran and Russia. As a result of the attacks, at least 250 regime soldiers were neutralized. Dozens of tanks, armored vehicles, howitzers, anti-tank shells, and ammunition depots were seized by the opposition. Additionally, it was emphasized that the distance between the opposition and the Sheikh Maqsud neighborhood in the center of Aleppo, controlled by the PKK's Syrian branch PYD/YPG, has decreased.

EVACUATION ORDER FOR CIVILIANS

The opposition forces issued an evacuation order for the outer neighborhoods of Aleppo and called on citizens to leave the area immediately due to security concerns. Students at Aleppo University were also evacuated by regime forces. In a statement from the Damascus regime, it was claimed that reinforcements had arrived for the defense of the city and that the opposition had not yet reached the city. It is estimated that around one million civilians live in the city.

CLAIMS OF ACTIVITY IN TEL RIFAT

According to reports in Arab media, Russia withdrew its elements from Tel Rifat, located in northern Aleppo and controlled by the terrorist organization PYD/YPG. It was reported that a large military convoy of Russian forces left the area, and Russian soldiers between the city center of Tel Rifat and the Faysal Mill region completely vacated the area, indicating a return to the situation before 2019. It is also claimed that the opposition Syrian National Army is sending fighters and military vehicles to the region, and preparations for a military operation to cleanse the area of terrorism in Tel Rifat are being evaluated.

NO RESPONSE FROM RUSSIA TO "WHERE IS ASSAD?" QUESTION

As clashes intensified between HTS and Assad forces around Aleppo in Syria, rumors circulated that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad rushed to Moscow in hopes of assistance, to which the Kremlin Palace responded with "No comment." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, "I will not answer the question of whether Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has come to Russia. I have no statement on this matter. However, I would like to emphasize that we consider the recent events around the city of Aleppo in Syria as an attack on Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Our expectation is for Syrian forces to regain control in the region and establish constitutional order," he said.