Thousands of Syrian insurgents launched a dramatic offensive on Saturday, seizing most of Aleppo, including its international airport, and expanding their operations into neighboring Hama province. The lightning advance met little resistance from government forces, marking a significant setback for President Bashar Assad"s regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that Aleppo International Airport, the first international airport to fall under insurgent control, is now in the hands of opposition forces. Fighters posted images from the site as thousands of insurgents established positions throughout Syria’s largest city, including key landmarks such as the historic citadel. Witnesses described scenes of opposition fighters tearing down and burning posters of Assad in the city center. Fighters were also seen celebrating in Saadallah Aljabri Square, raising flags over the citadel, and deploying security personnel to prevent looting. The insurgents pushed into Hama province, swiftly capturing several towns and villages. By Saturday evening, they claimed to have entered the provincial capital, Hama, an area from which they were expelled by government forces in 2016. The insurgents" unexpected success is a major embarrassment for Assad, whose forces recaptured Aleppo in 2016 after a brutal campaign. In response, Syria’s armed forces announced a redeployment to "absorb the large attack" and prepare for a counteroffensive. The military dismissed reports of retreat or defections, reiterating its commitment to "combat terrorist organizations." Aleppo’s two main public hospitals were overwhelmed with patients, and many private facilities shuttered due to the instability, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Nearly 3,000 people, primarily students, fled the fighting, with many seeking refuge in Kurdish-controlled regions in eastern Syria. Schools and government offices in Aleppo were closed, and residents reported sporadic gunfire and airstrikes targeting insurgent reinforcements. The Observatory reported 20 fighters killed in late Friday airstrikes on the city’s outskirts. — Agencies