The jihadist offensive in Syria was launched in coordination with the US and Israel, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday.

According to the diplomat, it is no coincidence that the terrorists attacked northern Syria right after Israel struck a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah.

The Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), along with allied militias, launched an assault on government-controlled territory in northern Syria last Wednesday.

• The jihadists seized a number of villages and towns in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama provinces, and entered the city of Aleppo on Friday.

The initial offensive started on the same day the long-negotiated ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah took effect. West Jerusalem reluctantly agreed to the ceasefire earlier in the week, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to “respond forcefully” to any violations on the part of Hezbollah.

• “The concurrence of the recent developments in Syria with the ceasefire in Lebanon, and the statements of the American officials in this regard, indicate the existence of some kind of coordination and cooperation between the terrorists, the US, and the Zionist regime,” Baghaei said at a press briefing.
• The official suggested that Washington and West Jerusalem were using the attack to “weaken Syria” and “create division and sedition among Islamic countries.”

• According to Baghaei, Washington has long been assisting militant groups operating in the country, while Israel is “the party that benefits the most from the developments in Syria.”

• The diplomat urged “all Islamic countries” to recognize the “threat posed by the Zionist regime” and join forces in resisting its actions.

Last week’s attack effectively broke the truce between the Syrian government and the militants, which was mediated by Russia and Türkiye in 2020. According to Baghaei, Tehran is currently working with regional powers to try and restore the deal. He noted that it could be done through the Astana Process, which was launched in 2017 to resolve the Syrian civil war and later to support the country in its post-war restoration, led by Türkiye, Russia, and Iran.

• “Everyone acknowledges that the Astana Process has been the most stable and successful mechanism related to crisis control in Syria in recent years. [It] is still alive,” he stated, noting that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is currently on a trip to Türkiye to discuss ways to ease the current escalation.

Previously, Araghchi also accused the US and Israel of being responsible for the resurgence of terrorism in Syria, calling last week’s offensive “an American-Zionist” plot. He suggested that Washington and West Jerusalem are using HTS as a proxy to strike a blow against the Syrian government, which supports Palestine.

The US has long supported anti-Assad militias in Syria, including HTS. In a 2021 interview, former US special representative for Syria engagement James Jeffrey described the group as “an asset” to American strategy in Syria.

Source: RT

Moscow and Tehran discuss Syria – Kremlin

The presidents of Russia and Iran have expressed “unconditional support” for Damascus in its fight against terrorists

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin. The main focus of the conversation was on the “escalating situation” in the Syria, the statement outlined.

The ongoing large-scale attack by Islamist militants around Syria’s second largest city, Aleppo, is aimed at undermining the sovereignty, political and socio-economic stability of the Middle Eastern nation, the two leaders concluded;

They expressed “unconditional support” for steps taken by Damascus “to restore constitutional order and territorial integrity of the country.” Putin and Pezeshkian also stressed the importance of coordinating efforts within the framework of the ‘Astana format’ with the participation of Türkiye.

Assorted Syrian ‘rebels’ and terrorists, including Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS), staged a large-scale attack on government forces in northwest Syria last week. Formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, HTS is considered a terrorist organization by Syria, Russia, Iran, the US, and several other countries.

The militants claim to have captured considerable chunks of the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, with some units reaching as far as the center of the city of Aleppo.

• Damascus has reportedly succeeded in halting the insurgents near the city of Hama in central Syria after receiving reinforcements. Syrian President Bashar Assad has pledged to “eliminate terrorists” and to punish their “sponsors and supporters.”

The Syrian military acknowledged that dozens of its troops had been killed during the offensive while estimating terrorist losses at around 1,000. Government forces were also backed by waves of Russian airstrikes which also targeted terrorist headquarters, weapons, and ammunition depots.

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that Russian warplanes stationed in Syria had conducted strikes on militant forces in recent days. Peskov reiterated Russia’s support for the Syrian government, stating that Moscow and Damascus had been in contact and were analyzing ongoing developments.

Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015, helping to inflict heavy defeats on numerous terrorist groups, most notably al-Nusra and the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). Russia maintains a significant military presence in the country and has bases in Hmeimim and Tartus.

• Last week’s Islamist attack was the first major clash between Syrian rebels and government forces since March 2020, when Russia and Türkiye brokered a ceasefire in the country.

Source: RT