What is happening in Aleppo

"In theory, the journey from Aleppo to Homs should take about two and a half hours. But one of our staff members who left yesterday at 1 p.m. didn’t arrive until 7 a.m. the next day."

Valeria Orsolano, AVSI’s Country Manager in Syria, paints a vivid picture of the challenges of navigating a war zone and shares the latest updates from Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city.

Three days have passed since the rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched its offensive. On Friday, November 29, the group announced, via its Unified Military Command, that it had seized control of parts of Aleppo.

Speaking from Damascus, 350 kilometers away, Orsolano is in constant communication with AVSI’s ten local staff members in Aleppo. Like most of the city’s residents, they’ve been confined to their homes since the attacks began.

"This morning’s updates," she explains, "indicate that while the M5 highway linking Aleppo to Homs remains under rebel control, the longer eastern route through Khanaser is now contested."

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Arabic for "Organization for the Liberation of the Levant," emerged in 2017 from the remnants of Jabhat al-Nusra, an Islamist group with ties to al-Qaeda. Their latest advance on Aleppo has raised questions about their relationship with Turkey, a key regional power just across the border. Turkey maintains influence over Syria’s northwestern territories—areas President Bashar al-Assad has never fully regained since the civil war erupted in 2011.

Over the weekend, HTS forces came under fire from both Damascus's army and Russian airstrikes. The offensive has already displaced more than 20,000 people. "Yesterday, Khanaser was clogged with people fleeing en masse," Orsolano reports, sharing scenes of chaos.

"We are closely monitoring the situation in Aleppo," says Orsolano. "We have 11 staff members there, all Syrian nationals. At first, we opened our office as a shelter, but as the rebels advanced, everyone had to retreat to their homes. They’ve been locked inside for three days now."

The atmosphere in the city is fraught with uncertainty. "Schools, universities, and public offices are shut. ATMs have been emptied, and while some streets are eerily quiet, gunfire echoes through others," she explains.

Bombings add another layer of fear. On Sunday, a Russian airstrike sparked a fire in the courtyard of the Franciscan College of Terra Sancta, though no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, concerns are growing that rebels might occupy civilian homes. "The fear," Orsolano warns, "is that these homes will then become targets."

In Damascus, however, tensions are lower. "The front line seems to have stabilized around Homs," she says. Despite the deteriorating situation, Orsolano underscores that AVSI and other international organizations remain committed to their mission. "We’re staying vigilant, but we have no plans to leave Syria."

"AVSI has been on the ground in Syria for many years, even before the 2023 earthquake devastated the northwest regions of Aleppo and Idlib," Orsolano explains. "Our focus has been on providing food, essential supplies, economic support, and vocational training, with the long-term goal of transitioning from emergency relief to sustainable development."

The recent escalation, however, has disrupted those plans. "As far as we know, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is now the only NGO still operational in Aleppo," she adds.

"In recent days, we have been closely monitoring the evolving situation in Syria, hour by hour, to evaluate whether and how we can continue our activities in the field as planned, while prioritizing the safety of our staff and beneficiaries - Giampaolo Silvestri AVSI Secretary General states -  At the moment, our operations are suspended only in Aleppo, which plunged into a sudden crisis within hours. Many residents have already fled the city. Schools, banks, and public offices are closed, and there is widespread fear of further heavy bombings targeting homes and buildings. In Damascus and Latakia, our activities continue with all the necessary safety precautions. Our presence in several Middle Eastern countries, which in recent months have been deeply affected by the quick escalation of long-standing conflicts, gives us a comprehensive perspective of the region. It helps us understand the complex dynamics of the area and respond quickly to people's needs wherever and whenever possible".

The situation is evolving rapidly. Reports suggest that Iranian forces allied with Assad have entered the fray, and President Assad has publicly thanked both Moscow and Tehran for their support.

Orsolano steers clear of commenting on geopolitical dynamics, including alliances involving Turkey, Russia, or Iran. Instead, she focuses on the human cost of the conflict.

"HTS spokespeople claim no civilians should fear for their safety," she says. "Whether that’s wartime propaganda or a genuine promise remains to be seen."