Iran to 'strongly support' Syrian regime after rebel attacks

(CLO) Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi met Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus on December 1 to send a message of support, after rebels attacked and took control of Syria's second largest city, Aleppo.

Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that Araghchi and Assad discussed bilateral relations as well as regional developments, but did not provide further details about the meeting.

According to a statement from the Syrian President's office, Mr. Assad stressed "the importance of support from allies and friends in dealing with foreign-backed terrorist attacks."

Before arriving in Damascus, Mr. Araghchi affirmed that Tehran would "continue to strongly support the Syrian government and army," according to IRNA. He also stressed that "the Syrian army will once again defeat the terrorist groups, just like before."

Syrian opposition fighters drive a confiscated Syrian army armored vehicle near the Syrian town of Khan Assubul, southwest of Aleppo, on December 1. Photo: AFP

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on November 30 that Islamist-led rebels had seized most of Aleppo city, along with its airport and dozens of nearby towns.

As of December 1, the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies controlled "the entire city of Aleppo, except for areas controlled by Kurdish forces," according to information from Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the monitoring organization.

An Iranian news agency reported that a general of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in fighting in Syria on November 28.

On November 30, Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed that its consulate in Aleppo had been attacked, but that its staff were safe.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Mr. Araghchi would also visit the Turkish capital Ankara after his visit to Damascus.

Since 2020, the rebel enclave of Idlib in northwestern Syria has been subject to a ceasefire brokered by Türkiye and Russia that has held but has been frequently violated.

However, a surprise rebel attack on Aleppo on November 27 broke the ceasefire, the same day a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon came into effect.

The Damascus government regained control of most of Syria in 2015 with the support of its allies Russia and Iran, and in 2016 fully recaptured the city of Aleppo.

Iran has been a staunch ally of President Assad since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. Iran insists it has no combat troops in Syria, only military officers providing advice and training. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed force in Lebanon, has fought alongside the Syrian army for years.

Ngoc Anh (according to AFP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/iran-se-ung-ho-manh-me-chinh-quyen-syria-sau-cac-cuoc-tan-cong-cua-phien-quan-post323811.html