Apr 16, 2014

The recent all-out rebel assault on regime-held west Aleppo was a huge shock, both to the regime fighters entrusted with holding the enclave as well as the hapless residents of that part of the city. The Islamist groups had been mustering their forces for quite some time. The coordinated offensive on several fronts was spearheaded by prominent jihadist groups, most notably the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, and reportedly led by Chechens. It has featured a host of foreign fighters.

The Aleppo offensive began immediately after Islamist groups assaulted Kassab, in Latakia province, in late March, and it increased in ferocity in stages, culminating in a concerted effort by rebels to enter the Zahra suburb and lay siege to Air Force Intelligence headquarters in the northwest. The rebels also attacked the military academy on the Damascus highway to the northeast and attempted to sever the only road in and out of Aleppo via Khanaser in the Ramouseh area. In the past few days, rebels have also attempted to push through from the east of the city at Midan as well as in the old city. The assault would not have been possible without the withdrawal of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) from most of Aleppo province. This resulted in the cessation of the interfactional war among Islamist rebels in the area, allowing them to concentrate instead on fighting the regime.

West Aleppo had not experienced anything like the current assault since the conflict began. The past week brought the most terrifying experiences local residents have had to confront. Ceaseless bombardment and shelling lit up the night sky, and explosions shook buildings miles away. Air raid sorties by fighter jets lasted all day. Adding to the terror and confusion was a partial power and communications outage, which plunged the already panicked city into what could only be described as a state of hysteria and pandemonium. Frightened and dazed people attempted to flee to supposedly safer areas. The once-affluent and crowded suburb of Zahra now lies almost completely deserted, its streets empty, save for the sounds of gunfire, as the looters move in. Prices skyrocketed as those who remain stocked up on basics and petrol stations closed. Desperate people wanting to leave were trapped in the city because the only road out had been closed.

The intense fighting has seen the Islamists make gains on the Zahra front, entering several residential blocks after heavily bombarding the area. They took up positions inside homes, and at least 25 families were taken to the nearby town of Hreitan. Some have been released, but the fate of others remains unknown.

I recently spent an evening with a group of regime fighters taking a night off from the Zahra front line in a "commandeered" apartment. Such a dwelling in Aleppo might be an empty home whose residents have fled the city (or are wanted fugitives) or an abandoned building at the front lines. Indeed, many buildings in the affluent Zahra suburb have been abandoned since the rebel assault began. Either way, troops from both sides of the conflict make ample use of them.