Syrian rebels have launched their first major offensive in the country in four years, claiming to have beaten government forces back several miles and captured a dozen villages west of Aleppo.

Scores of people were killed after forces opposed to the government of President Bashar al-Assad overtook a Syrian military base, a monitoring group reported.

The Syrian Civil War reignited after four years of docility when a rebel coalition launched a surprise offensive against Syrian government positions outside of Aleppo. Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), recognized as a terrorist group by the United States,

Syrian rebel fighters launched their first major offensive in four years against government positions near Aleppo, claiming to have advanced several miles and captured a string of villages.

For years, Israel has carried out deadly strikes in Syria, saying its targets are Iran-backed militants including the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Those attacks have escalated in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel from Gaza.