Pro-Turkish forces seize strategic Syrian city of Tal Rifaat

Pro-Turkish rebel groups captured the strategic city of Tal Rifaat in northern Syria on Sunday, which had been under Kurdish control, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The pro-Turkish forces took control of Tal Rifaat, located about 20 kilometers from the Turkish border, along with several surrounding villages. 

Tal Rifaat is a critical enclave controlled by Kurdish forces and surrounded by areas held by pro-Turkish groups and the Syrian army.

The capture comes amid repeated threats from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to launch an offensive against the Kurdish-controlled enclave.

In a parallel development, a coalition of rebels, including Islamist factions, delivered a significant setback to President Bashar al-Assad's regime by seizing Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city. This marks the first time since the war began in 2011 that the regime has lost control of Aleppo.

Pro-Turkish forces launched an offensive on Saturday against both government and Kurdish forces in Aleppo province, according to SOHR. By Sunday, they had captured the towns of Safireh and Khanasser southeast of Aleppo, as well as the Kweires military airport. The fighting reportedly left nine government troops dead.

SOHR warned that nearly 200,000 Syrian Kurds in northern Aleppo province are "besieged by pro-Turkish factions."

Kurdish forces, the main component of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), control significant areas in northeastern Syria. In a statement, the SDF accused Turkey of orchestrating the offensive to "divide Syria."

Syria remains fragmented into zones of influence after more than a decade of war. The country is divided among forces loyal to Assad, Kurdish factions, Turkish-backed rebels, and other groups vying for control.