Syrian rebels seize central Aleppo in lightning attack against Putin ally Assad as Vlad launches 1st airstrikes in 8yrs

SYRIAN rebels have managed to seize central Aleppo and now roam the streets following a lightning fast attack.

Dozens of exiled fighters from a militant Islamist group launched a surprise offensive against Vladimir Putin ally President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

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A wrecked car caught in fire in the centre of Aleppo[/caption]

Rex

Smoke billows from a building in Syria following a night of bloodshed[/caption]

AFP

Armed rebels celebrate in a street in Maaret al-Numan in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province[/caption]

The ferocious march into the city in armoured trucks and tanks resulted in hours of bloodshed as the rebels battled with Russian-backed guards.

The Syrian army announced that dozens of its soldiers were killed in the major attack as they lost control of the city.

Despite gaining control of Aleppo, Putin responded to the serious loss of land with a first round of airstrikes in Syria since 2016.

Russian warplanes launched a terrifying raid on areas of Aleppo, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The overnight attack saw giant blasts ring out across Syria.

Russia’s military said it was bombing “extremist” forces.

Much of the city was set on fire with parked up cars being left in ruins and buildings destroyed by the attacks.

Thick plumes of smoke can be seen rising from apartment blocks in a harrowing set of pictures.

Fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham still lay claim to Aleppo as they battle to overpower Assad’s military might and outrun the aerial strikes.

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The view of the city following a chilling strike[/caption]

AP

Fires have broken out across Aleppo overnight[/caption]

Syria’s army said “armed terrorist organisations” launched “a broad attack from multiple axes”.

The shock surge marks the biggest strike of the Syrian civil war since 2020 with many men left lifeless on the cold Aleppo ground.

Aleppo has been one of the most volatile areas in Syria for years with it being controlled by the Syrian army ever since government forces backed by Russia and Iran drove out the rebels six years ago.

With Russia and Iran still fighting their own national battles in the Middle East and across in Europe the siege is set to plunge the countries into further trouble.

Vlad has already responded and shown he wants Aleppo back under his allies control through the overnight strikes.

But Iran are yet to react with Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman telling AFP it seems like the Syrian regime has been “abandoned by its main allies Iran”.

Rex

Rebel tanks entering Aleppo[/caption]

Reuters

Syrian opposition fighters gather after rebels stormed into Aleppo[/caption]