DAMASCUS, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group and allied factions in northern Syria are gearing up for a large-scale offensive against Syrian government forces in key areas, taking advantage of the violence resulting from the Israeli military showdown with Hezbollah and the potential involvement of Syria, a war monitor reported on Sunday.
The HTS, a former al-Qaida affiliate, and allied militant groups are planning a massive offensive on government-controlled areas, including Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, and Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The rebel group's "Popular Resistance Companies" initiated a new recruitment campaign, seeking medical, administrative, and combat personnel, said the Observatory.
Recruitment centers have been established in towns and cities in areas under the group's control in northern Syria, such as in Sarmada, Ariha, and Jisr al-Shughur in northwestern Syria's Idlib province.
The radical group has also deployed heavy artillery, rocket launchers, and U.S.-made TOW anti-tank missiles to strategic locations in the western countryside of Aleppo.
In response, the Syrian army has reinforced its positions, particularly around Aleppo and other key areas, according to the Observatory.
The Britain-based watchdog group said the Syrian army's elite units, such as the Fourth Division, 25th Special Forces Division, Fifth Corps, and the Republican Guard, have been deployed.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that preparations for the offensive are nearly complete, citing Syria's opposition military leaders, including Colonel Mustafa al-Bakour, head of the Jaysh al-Izza rebel group.
Al-Bakour stated that the upcoming offensive would be a coordinated operation across multiple fronts to reclaim lost territory and weaken government forces.
As for why the HTS is preparing for a major assault, the Observatory said the group's leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, believes that Israel might launch an offensive in southern Syria, making the Syrian government forces preoccupied with a hard battle in the south.
However, the Observatory noted that neither Türkiye nor Russia supports such a conflict triggered by the rebel group's potential offensive. ■
