Opposition supporters are ecstatic but others are wary of their new Islamist rulers as Assad regime begins counteroffensive

Assad’s favor after a Russian blitzkrieg on Aleppo helped him regain control over the country’s second biggest city.

Syrian and Russian jets are stepping up strikes on opposition forces in northern Syria in retaliation for the sudden offensive that has cost the regime control of the country’s second largest city, Aleppo.

The surprise attack, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, was the boldest rebel assault for years in the civil war that has been frozen.

Syrian armed opposition forces have entered Aleppo just three days into their surprise offensive, marking the first time they have set foot in the country’s second largest city since government forces recaptured the city in 2016.

The surprise offensive on Aleppo by Syrian rebel groups has left the US in the difficult position of not fully supporting either side while also maintaining a force posture of nearly 1,000 troops in Syria as part of the ongoing mission to fight ISIS.

Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, otherwise known as Bashar Assad’s lifeline in Syria, have bigger fish to fry at the moment.

Syrian rebels launched a surprise attack on Saturday and quickly advanced through several provinces in the north and northwest of Syria, including the city of Aleppo, the country’s second largest city.

Diminished support for the Syrian government from Iran, Hezbollah and Russia enabled opposition forces to take the initiative and seize new territory.