Syrian authorities have shut down Aleppo airport and cancelled all flights following a rebel incursion into the city, military sources informed Reuters on Saturday. The offensive, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, marks the first time opposition fighters have reached Aleppo’s centre since their defeat nearly a decade ago. The rebels launched their surprise attack on Wednesday, sweeping through government-held towns and advancing into Aleppo by late Friday, according to an operations room coordinating the offensive. Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander with the Jaish al-Izza brigade, credited their rapid progress to a lack of Iran-backed forces in the region, which have been weakened by Israeli strikes amid the broader Middle East tensions triggered by the Gaza conflict. Turkey is reported to have given tacit approval for the offensive, according to opposition sources linked to Turkish intelligence. However, Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli stated that Ankara prioritises regional stability and cautioned that recent attacks threaten existing de-escalation agreements. Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has pledged additional military support to …