Moscow and Tehran discuss ‘escalating situation’ in Syria – Kremlin

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict in Syria 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 country, it added.

The large-scale attack launched by Islamist militants was aimed at undermining the sovereignty, political and socio-economic stability of the Middle Eastern nation, according to the two leaders.

They expressed “unconditional support” for actions 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.

Last week, Islamist militants, including Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, staged a large-scale attack on government forces in northwest Syria. 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.

Formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, HTS is considered a terrorist organization by Syria, Russia, Iran, the US, and several other countries.

Damascus 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.”

Read more

The Syrian military acknowledged that dozens of its troops had been killed during the counteroffensive while estimating terrorist losses at around 1,000. Government forces were also backed by waves of Russian airstrikes, which reportedly neutralized hundreds of terrorists. The strikes also targeted 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.