The fighting is a significant escalation since rebels launched a surprise offensive earlier this week, seizing towns and villages as they cut a path toward Syria’s second-largest city.

Summary

Syrian insurgents, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), breached Aleppo on Friday after detonating two car bombs, marking the first rebel siege of the city since 2016.

The attack is part of a broader offensive launched Wednesday, with rebels seizing towns and villages en route to Syria’s second-largest city.

Fierce clashes with regime forces have killed at least 121 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Residents are fleeing western Aleppo amid missile fire, while state media reported insurgent attacks on Aleppo University that killed four, including two students.