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Our correspondent reported this morning that Syrian regime forces have fully withdrawn from the Shahba region, as well as the towns of Nubl and Zahraa, in northern Aleppo countryside. The forces retreated eastward toward the town of Al-Safira in eastern Aleppo.
This significant development underscores the rapid collapse of Syrian regime control across Aleppo province.
According to the correspondents, the Shahba region witnessed a state of heightened anticipation as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) secured near-total control of the province with minimal resistance from regime forces. The advance of HTS prompted widespread displacement in the towns of Nubl and Zahraa, which were evacuated entirely as HTS forces reached their outskirts. Residents have accused the Syrian army and Iranian militias of abandoning them following the sudden withdrawal.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capitalized on the situation, seizing key locations in eastern Aleppo. These include the Kurdish-majority towns of Tel Hasel and Tel Aran, as well as Maskanah and surrounding villages. The SDF also sent substantial reinforcements to the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in Aleppo city, with reports suggesting they have taken control of Sheikh Najjar and nearby areas.
The swift collapse of Syrian regime forces in Aleppo is reshaping the military and political landscape of northern Syria. The retreat of regime forces, the territorial gains by HTS and SDF, and the mass displacement of civilians signal a period of instability and potential realignment of power in the region.
