The towns of Nubl and Zahra in northern Aleppo have witnessed a limited return of their residents, following the complete control of opposition factions over the northern rural areas of Aleppo and large parts of the governorate.

Videos obtained by Enab Baladi show that a number of Nubl and Zahra residents were transported by buses sent by the “Deterrence of Aggression” factions from the outskirts of the city of al-Safira, where the residents of the two towns had been displaced after military operations.

According to the recordings, a section of the residents returned while another portion refused to return and preferred to stay at the outskirts of al-Safira.

Enab Baladi‘s correspondent in Aleppo confirmed the return of a small number of residents from the two towns, estimated at about 70 people, most of whom are children and elderly.

Meanwhile, the majority had left for northeastern Syria, where the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) or areas controlled by the regime prevail.

The media office official for the Sham Legion, Malik Ahmad, one of the factions participating in the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation, stated that coordination with the residents had been made through the relations officers who visited the displaced persons from the two towns in their locations east of al-Safira.

Opposition factions pledged that their security administration would guarantee the protection of their lives and property, according to Ahmad’s statement to Enab Baladi.

The media official in the Sham Legion confirmed that communication is still ongoing with the residents of Nubl and Zahra who left for regime-controlled areas to persuade them to return to their homes and villages.

Opposition factions in Nubl and Zahra for the first time

The towns of Nubl and Zahra are located in the northwestern part of Aleppo governorate, with a predominantly Shia population.

Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, many residents of the region have declared their support for the regime against the opposition.

In 2012, with the onset of military operations in Syria, the Free Syrian Army factions took control of most towns in the northern countryside, except for the towns of Nubl and Zahra, which remained besieged for about four years.

In 2016, the Syrian regime lifted the siege on the two towns after a wide attack in the rural areas of Aleppo.

Opposition factions had not entered Nubl and Zahra since the outbreak of military confrontations against the regime until November 30 of last month.

After the opposition’s control over the two towns, the residents of the area moved to the outskirts of the city of al-Safira, some managed to reach regime-controlled areas, while others headed to areas under SDF control in northeastern Syria.

On December 2, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the administrative umbrella for the SDF, announced that it had received displaced persons from Nubl and Zahra, in addition to others from the areas of Tal Rifaat and Shahba, without issuing statistics on their numbers so far.

The “Deterrence of Aggression” factions sent reassuring messages to the residents of Nubl and Zahra on November 29, before entering the city.

A statement from the Political Affairs Department of the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) urged the residents of Nubl and Zahra not to stand alongside the regime and support it in “killing the Syrian people,” according to the statement.

“Deterrence of Aggression” factions control Hama

Opposition factions announced on Wednesday, November 27, the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation and began their first operations from the axis of western rural Aleppo.

In a short time frame, these factions took control of the entire western and northern countryside of Aleppo, as well as vast areas of the eastern and southern countryside.

Simultaneously with the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation, factions belonging to the Syrian National Army (SNA) announced the launch of the “Dawn of Freedom” operation against the Syrian regime and the SDF, and took control of areas in the eastern Aleppo countryside up to the Kuweires military airport.

In northern Aleppo, opposition factions supported by Turkey took control of the towns and villages of Tal Rifaat and Shahba, which were previously controlled by the SDF.

Opposition factions are still advancing in the central regions of Syria, announcing their control over the city of Hama.

For its part, the regime announced today its withdrawal from the city of Hama, calling it “redeployment and repositioning,” justifying its withdrawal as “a means of protecting civilians.”

The Syrian regime’s announcement of its withdrawal came three hours after it denied the opposition’s entry into any neighborhoods of the city and confirmed that its forces and vehicles were stationed on the outskirts of the city and positioned at advanced points.