Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, paid a visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus, to meet with President Bashar Assad in the midst of escalating violence in Aleppo and Idlib. Syrian armed forces have launched counterattacks against insurgents who have made surprising advances in the cities. Syrian state television claimed that nearly 1,000 insurgents had been killed over the past three days, although no evidence or details were provided.
The White Helmets, a group operating in opposition-held areas, reported that Assad’s army launched joint counter-operations with Russian forces, resulting in airstrikes that killed at least 18 people and wounded dozens more. Russia, a long-standing supporter of Assad, has not publicly commented on its involvement in the conflict. Iran, another key ally of Assad, sent Araghchi to Damascus to reaffirm Tehran’s support for the Syrian president.
Rebel groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, conducted a surprise assault on Aleppo, forcing the Syrian armed forces to temporarily retreat. The insurgents claimed to have taken control of most of Aleppo and also entered the city of Hama. This offensive raises questions about Assad’s armed forces’ preparedness and comes at a time of high political turmoil in the Middle East.
Araghchi is set to visit Turkey to discuss the escalating situation with his counterpart. The surge in violence in Syria risks involving regional powers such as Russia and Turkey in direct conflicts, with potentially detrimental consequences for the already unstable political scene in the region.
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