[Capture news] "The powder keg of the Middle East" on fire again..."I'm in a grave crisis".

Shops and vehicles are burning throughout the city, and white helmeted rescuers are searching for the injured inside the building.

Government forces have fought back with airstrikes to prevent the advance of Syrian rebels on the offensive for the first time in eight years.

Since the 27th of last month, Syrian rebels have launched a surprise attack on Aleppo, the second city, and seized most of the area.

[Mohamed Izzo, Syrian rebels] I am Aleppo's son. Back in my city and home by God's will, and we will not give up an inch.]

Syrian rebels are said to have advanced to the northwestern province of Idlib and the central region of Hama in four days.

More than 400 people, including dozens of civilians, were killed in the armed conflict between the two sides, a local human rights group said.

Government forces claimed to have used a large force to stop the rebels, but foreign media diagnosed that the al-Assad regime was in a grave crisis.

Russia and Iran, which have currently supported the al-Assad regime, have sought to take advantage of the weakening of the war between Ukraine and the Middle East.

After more than 50 years of hereditary dictatorship, al-Assad's regime has remained in power with support from Russia and Iran in every civil war crisis since 2011.

[Dmitri Peskov / Russian Kremlin spokesman: We hope the Syrian government will restore order in the region as soon as possible.]

In particular, there is an analysis that it is the "butterfly effect" caused by the de facto collapse of Hezbollah, Iran's proxy force, due to Israel's offensive.

Iran's foreign minister, who rushed to Syria, promised solid support and called the rebel attack a U.S. plot.

The White House has designated the Syrian rebel group as a terrorist group and has distanced itself from the attack.

This is YTN Jeong Yu-shin.

Edit
Video | Kang Eun Ji
subtitle news|Lee Mi-young



#YTN Caption News