Syrian opposition forces capture key city of Hama in new blow to al-Assad
Dec 5. 2024
Opposition forces have captured the city of Hama in central Syria, the latest victory for the rebels since they launched a lightning offensive eight days ago and a major blow to President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian army said opposition forces entered Hama on Thursday after intense fighting, prompting its units to withdraw from the city.
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The army said in a statement it was redeploying its forces “to preserve civilian lives and prevent urban combat” after intense clashes.
Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the leader of the most powerful opposition armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, declared that opposition forces had full control over Hama.
Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar said the taking of Hama was a “major development”.
Continue reading at www.aljazeera.com
Russia in talks with Turkey, Iran to hold ministerial meeting on Syria this week — Lavrov
VALLETTA /Republic of Malta/, December 5. /TASS/. Russia is talking to Turkey and Iran about holding an Astana Format ministerial meeting on Syria this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.
“We are negotiating with our Turkish and Iranian partners on the organization of a ministerial meeting this week,” Lavrov said at a news conference in response to a question about whether an Astana format meeting could be held given the developments in Syria’s Aleppo.
On December 2, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced plans to revive the Astana Format and hold a ministerial meeting between Turkey, Russia and Iran as soon as possible to talk about settling the situation in Syria. He also said that he had discussed this issue directly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Continue reading at tass.com
Iran expresses Syria frustration to Turkey in a tense visit
Dec 3, 2024
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Ankara on Monday was fraught with tension as he accused Turkey of enabling a Syrian rebel offensive to seize Aleppo, two people familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.
Araghchi made the trip to Turkey after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, where he reaffirmed Tehran’s support for Damascus as rebels continued their stunning advance.
Observers in Ankara expected Araghchi to deliver a message from Assad aimed at encouraging a diplomatic solution to the escalating conflict. That didn’t happen.
“He didn’t bring anything from Assad,” said one person familiar with the talks. Instead, Araghchi expressed Tehran’s grievances, accusing Turkey of betrayal by allegedly supporting the rebel offensive. He also reiterated that Iran would back Assad under any circumstances.
On Tuesday, Araghchi upped the ante, saying Iran would consider deploying troops to Syria if Damascus requested it, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.
Continue reading at www.middleeasteye.net
US-Backed Kurdish Forces Attack East Syrian Villages
Dec 3, 2024
The Syrian Civil War and its various fronts continue to re-escalate today with the Kurdish SDF attacking, and temporarily claiming they had captured seven villages in the eastern Deir Ezzor Province. The villages are along the path between the provincial capital and the Abu Kamal border crossing with Iraq.
The villages didn’t ultimately remain in the SDF’s hands, with the Syrian Army reporting that they had repelled them after intense fighting. The decision of the SDF to attack in the first place does not appear to have been entirely their own, however.
The US not only supported the SDF attack, but according to al-Mayadeen the US military actually “instructed” the SDF’s Deir Ezzor Military Council to attack those specific villages, meant to take advantage of the recent territory losses and fighting further west between Syrian forces and the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Continue reading at news.antiwar.com
Putin, Iranian president discuss situation in Syria
MOSCOW, December 2. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in talks that focused on the crisis in Syria, the Kremlin said in a statement.
“Attention was focused on the escalating situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. The major aggression of terrorist groups and gangs is views as aimed at undermining the sovereignty, political, social and economic stability of the Syrian state,” the statement said.
According to the Kremlin, unconditional support was expressed for the actions of the legitimate government in Syria to restore constitutional order and the country’s territorial integrity. Also, emphasis was made on the importance of coordinating efforts within the Astana format with the participation of Turkey.
Continue reading at tass.com
The Empire hits back: ISIS, Turkey, Israel and the West attack Syria, key Iranian and Russian ally
Dec 2, 2024
November 18, Israel’s Shin Bet Chief met with Turkey’s intelligence agency
November 25, NATO Chief met with Erdogan
November 26, Al Qaeda and ISIS launched an attack against the Syrian state
Terrorist Offensive in Aleppo Reeks of US and Israeli Involvement – Expert
Nov. 29, 2024
The sudden escalation in Syria where anti-government groups launched a sudden offensive towards Aleppo betrays the involvement of several foreign powers, including Israel and the United States, says Seyed Mohammad Marandi, political analyst and professor at Tehran University.
“We see thousands of foreign fighters affiliated to al-Qaeda* from across Central Asia,” Marandi tells Sputnik. “They’ve been mobilized and well trained to carry out this assault.”
The offensive, he points out, takes place “literally a day after Netanyahu said he needs the ceasefire in order to deal with the so-called Iranian threat,” and it appears that the goal of this offensive is “to cut off Syria from the Axis of Resistance in order to isolate Lebanon.”
Continue reading at www.defenddemocracy.press
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