Iranian-backed Iraqi militias crossed into eastern Syria overnight to shore up embattled forces loyal to Damascus, taking control of much of the country's northwest as Islamic extremists take control of Aleppo. Fighting a sweeping rebellion.
A Syrian army officer told Reuters that Iraqi militia forces across the border were “new reinforcements being sent to support our comrades on the northern front.”
Iraqi militants, including fighters from Kataib Hezbollah and the Fatemiyoun group, arrived near the eastern Syrian town of Boukamal overnight to join forces already deployed in Syria to support Damascus, the Associated Press reported. did.
Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad were unexpectedly cleared from Syria's second city over the weekend after an attack led by Islamic militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and rebels. Together with their forces, they claimed new territory across northern Syria. It is supported by Türkiye.
The flight of Syrian troops from Aleppo, amid reports that the defense line had collapsed in the face of advancing Syrian forces, ended the already crumbling rule of the Assad regime, which had relied heavily on support from Moscow and Tehran. spoiled. President Bashar al-Assad's allies have sought to shore up support for Damascus as rebels seek to move south and fighting intensifies in northwestern Syria, fueling an already years-long proxy war.
Syria's president moved to quell a popular uprising against him in 2011, but it quickly devolved into a bloody civil war. Damascus employed Russian air support during the long battle to retake Aleppo that ended in 2016, but Assad also deployed chemical weapons and siege tactics against his own people.
Damascus remains dependent on Iranian ground forces, as well as the support of Iranian-allied Iraqi militias that support the flagship Syrian army, which seeks to maintain control of the country.
The sudden loss of Aleppo forced Assad, his regional partners, and his adversaries to adjust. After meeting with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Sunday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as “meaningful, frank and friendly” discussions, adding that the Syrian president “deserves…courage and spirit. ”, he added.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani also discussed the sudden changes in Syria with Jordan's King Abdullah II, saying, “Syria's security and stability are closely linked to Iraq's national security, and the region's It plays an important role in national security.” According to his office.
Araghçi arrived in Ankara early Monday morning for talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The Turkish government had previously made public overtures to Damascus in a move to normalize relations while supporting rebel groups along Syria's northern border.
After the meeting, Fidan said, “I don't want to see the Syrian civil war escalate,'' and urged the Syrian regime in Damascus to “reconciliate with its own people and legitimate opposition groups.''
He said the Turkish government did not want to force the displacement of any more civilians, adding: “The flow of refugees must be stopped and reversed.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian pledged “unconditional support” for Assad's rule in Syria in a telephone conversation, as Moscow stressed the need for cooperation with Ankara.
Damascus's defense ministry said it had deployed military reinforcements to Hama and other flashpoints in an attempt to fight back amid reports of further Syrian and Russian airstrikes on Idlib, the HTS-held center.
The Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, said Damascus had launched several airstrikes near Idlib, killing five civilians and wounding 30 others. White Helmets leader Ismail Arabdollah, speaking after returning to Idlib from Aleppo, said a total of 15 people were killed in the second attack targeting an internally displaced person camp and a third attack on a nearby village.
“There was just an attack on a city hospital in Idlib that cut off the oxygen supply to the hospital and killed two people,” he said.
Islamic rebels are now in control of Aleppo, and the White Helmets have announced they have expanded rescue operations there following Syrian and Russian attacks on the city. Airstrikes targeted central Aleppo for the second day in a row, causing property damage and raising fears of further retaliation by Damascus.
“No one was prepared for such a scale of shelling against such a large area,” Arabudullah said. He added that Damascus and the Russian air force had deployed weapons familiar from the Aleppo bombing nearly a decade ago and had used them sporadically targeting Idlib regions in the years since.
“We have a team in Aleppo and are doing everything we can to respond, but the regime is still bombing and we know we will face further challenges. The situation is very difficult.” he said.
The White Helmets expand operations across northwest Syria to help tens of thousands of displaced people return to their homes, even as areas of Aleppo and Idlib are hit by airstrikes. It said it had warned people not to return to the area. .
“Supporting the return of forcibly displaced Syrians to their homes is one of our top priorities,” they said in a statement.
White Helmets spokesperson Oubada Alwan said they urged caution in returning because of the unexploded ordnance.
“Our teams are working to clear and secure the area following the attack, but of course with so many attacks occurring the area is spread thin,” he said.
Fuad, a university lecturer in western Aleppo who requested a pseudonym for his own safety, said Aleppo's new ruler had asked people to stay at home “to protect their safety and property.” “Essentials.''
“I heard they reassured residents that they were safe, which is very important at this stage when people are feeling scared,” he said.
