Russian military aircraft are expected to take action in the coming hours to alter the trajectory of ongoing battles in northern Syria, Sky News Arabia reported on Friday, citing Syrian sources. 

This development follows comments made by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who stated that Russia wants the Syrian government to quickly restore constitutional order in the Aleppo region. Peskov emphasized that Moscow considers the recent attack a violation of Syria's sovereignty and is urging Syrian authorities to act promptly to reclaim control of the area.

Peskov’s comments come after a sudden offensive launched on Wednesday by armed factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which managed to seize significant territory in the Aleppo region, marking their first such territorial gains in years. These forces reportedly entered Aleppo for the first time in several years, signaling a shift in the conflict.

Since Russia’s military intervention in 2015 alongside Syrian forces, Moscow has maintained strategic air and naval bases in Syria. The Russian military’s involvement has been pivotal in bolstering the Syrian government’s position in the ongoing civil war.

On Wednesday, the armed factions launched an offensive, advancing through 12 towns and villages in the Aleppo governorate, previously under Syrian control. This marks the first substantial territorial advance for the factions since March 2020, when Russia and Turkey reached a ceasefire agreement to halt military actions in northwestern Syria, effectively freezing the situation in the region.

In response to the renewed fighting, Russian and Syrian warplanes launched airstrikes on Thursday, targeting areas held by the armed factions near the Turkish border. The attacks were aimed at halting the militants' progress and reasserting Syrian and Russian control over the contested region.

However, Turkish security sources told Middle East Eye that an intensive Russian response to the unfolding developments is expected to be slow. The delay, they explained, is partly due to Moscow having relocated most of its aerial assets to Ukraine to support its ongoing military campaign there.