The Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad He vowed on Sunday to use force to eliminate what he called “terrorism” in northern Syria.in the midst of a lightning offensive launched by Islamist rebel groups that have gained ground in the region, including the strategic city of Aleppo.
“Terrorism only understands the language of force, and it is with this language that we will break it and eliminate it, whatever its supporters and promoters may be.””Assad declared, according to the Syrian state news agency A LOT. These statements were made during a phone call with the leader of Abkhazia, a pro-Russian separatist region of Georgia.
Assad’s comment comes in a context of increasing violence in northern Syriawhere a coalition of Islamist factions, led by the Levant Liberation Agency (HTS) has launched an offensive against Syrian government forces. In recent days, the insurgents have managed to capture key areas in the provinces of Idlib, Hama y Aleppowhich has challenged Damascus’ control over these regions.
The situation has provoked a series of international reactions, while Syriasupported by Iran y Russiatries to repel the insurgents.
The Syrian Army, which has received air support from Russian aviation, reported on Sunday that had managed to expel Islamist fighters from two key areas in the central province of Hama. These victories were described by the Army as an important step in defending the government’s border lines, although they acknowledge that the situation remains volatile.
The Syrian Army declared in a statement that its troops They reinforced their positions in the north of Hama with “all types of military material” and managed to repel rebel advances in strategic locations such as Qaleet al Madeeq y Tuesdays. According to the report, dozens of insurgents were killed in the clashes, and the survivors fled.
Tuesdaysin particular, has a great strategic importancesince it is located in the M5 motorwaya vital route connecting the south and north of Syria. The loss of Maardes to the rebels would be a significant blow to government forces, who rely on this route for the movement of troops and supplies.
The insurgents’ offensive began on Wednesday, when HTS and other Islamist factions joined together to launch a massive assault on northwestern Syria. Since then, have taken control of important areas, including the city of Aleppo, which was the scene of a fierce battle during the Syrian civil war in 2012 and which has been under the control of the Syrian government for the past decade.
This rebel advance has surprised many analysts, as it was believed that government forces, backed by Russian air support, would have the ability to repel the insurgents. However, The Syrian Army admitted that it was forced to temporarily withdraw from Aleppo with the aim of reorganizing and launching a counteroffensive.
As Assad steps up his rhetoric against the rebels, his international allies, such as Iran y Russiahave reaffirmed their support for the Syrian government. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abás Araqchítraveled to Damascus this Sunday to convey Tehran’s support for the Syrian government in the midst of the rebel offensive. Araqchí accused Israel of being responsible for the situation in Syria, ensuring that Tel Aviv is trying to destabilize the region by supporting terrorist groups.
For its part, Russia has intensified its aerial bombardments in northern Syria in support of government forces. The Russian intervention in 2015 was a turning point in the Syrian civil war, allowing Assad to regain control of much of the territory that had been taken by rebels. Russian aviation has played a crucial role in defending the Syrian government’s front lines and suppressing insurgent offensives.
The Foreign Minister of JordanAyman Safadi on Sunday also expressed Amman’s support for the Syrian regime, stating that Jordan is committed to the “unity” and “sovereignty” of Syria. However, Safadi also stressed the importance of a political solution to resolve the crisis in Syriaa topic that has been recurring in international conversations since the beginning of the civil war.
On the other hand, tensions also increase due to the presence of kurdish militias in northeastern Syria, which have been a constant target of Türkiye due to its links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), considered a terrorist group by Ankara. According to Turkish security sources, the Syrian government has begun transferring territories under its control to Kurdish militias in northeastern Syria, leading to clashes with Turkish-backed Syrian rebels.
The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011, has left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions of people, creating a humanitarian crisis of incalculable magnitude.
