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In a dramatic shift over the past week, anti-Assad rebels launched a surprise offensive on loyalist positions in Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, located in the northwestern province of Idlib. Originally aiming to disrupt the strategically crucial M5 Motorway—which connects Aleppo to southern areas including Damascus—the rebels rapidly gained control, seizing Aleppo within roughly 24 hours.
This swift success signified a major setback for Assad's forces, which have not only retreated but have also struggled to regroup amidst the chaos. By the end of the week, the rebels had extended their reach along the M5 Motorway and were pushing toward the northern outskirts of Hama, a city with a significant population that lies crucially between Aleppo and Damascus.