BEIRUT, Dec 3 (Alliance News): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accused an ongoing offensive in the country of being an effort to reshape the regional balance to align with US interests.
Speaking during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Assad denounced the military escalation as part of a broader attempt to divide and fragment the region.
His statement came as Syrian and allied Russian air forces launched deadly raids on rebel-held areas.
These strikes targeted Idlib province and Aleppo, killing at least 15 civilians, including seven children. Reports indicated that strikes also targeted a Christian-majority neighborhood in Aleppo.
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, alongside allied factions, seized control of Aleppo over the weekend, excluding Kurdish-controlled neighborhoods.
This move further complicates the landscape of the war, which has raged since 2011 following Assad’s crackdown on democracy protests.
The conflict has led to over 500,000 deaths and displaced millions, with around 5.5 million Syrians seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Assad’s office quoted him saying, “The terrorist escalation reflects the far-reaching goals of dividing the region and fragmenting the countries in it and redraw the map in line with the objectives of the United States and the West.”
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s commitment to Syria’s support, expressing hope that Assad’s leadership would enable the country to emerge victorious from the crisis.
Both Russia and Iran, long-time backers of Assad, have pledged “unconditional support” and emphasized the need for coordination with Turkey, according to statements from President Vladimir Putin’s office. Meanwhile, Turkey has rejected any notion of “foreign interference” in the conflict.
