Iran has sent militia groups into Syria to prop up Bashar al-Assad, as China also gave its backing to the regime.
At least 300 fighters crossed from Iraq as Tehran said it would provide full support to the beleaguered dictator after rebel groups seized the city of Aleppo and charged south toward Hama and Damascus.
Fighters crossed from outposts in Iraq late on Sunday using a dirt road to avoid the official border crossing, security sources said.
On Monday, Russia again joined Syrian regime forces in bombing rebel-held cities, killing at least 25 people.
Meanwhile, China said it “supports Syria’s efforts to maintain national security and stability” in its first comments on the reignited civil war. It is unlikely to lend military support however.
The Kremlin said on Monday that Vladimir Putin had held a phone call with Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, about the renewed fighting in Syria, and made his first public statement since rebels captured Aleppo last week.
“Unconditional support was expressed for the actions of the legitimate authorities of Syria to restore constitutional order and to restore the political, economic and social stability of the Syrian state.” the Kremlin said.
Russia has backed Syria since intervening in the civil war in 2015. It has also become a firm ally of Iran during its war in Ukraine, relying on Iranian missiles and drones to supply its forces on the front line. It has also grown closer to China.
Syrian government troops were on Monday reported to be building a fortified defensive line in northern Hama in an attempt to stall an offensive that has reignited the Syrian civil war after years of stagnant front lines.
The militiamen were expected to support the Syrian army’s push back against the insurgents.
The Assad regime has for years been heavily reliant on support from Iran and Russia to maintain its grip on power, after 2011 pro-democracy protestsescalated into a brutal civil war.
Tehran has poured in billions of dollars, as well as troops, arms, equipment and advisers to keep Assad in government.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said on Monday that Syria’s military was capable of confronting the rebels but, “resistance groups will help and Iran will provide any support needed”.
Washington and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly been discussing driving a wedge into the Tehran-Damascus alliance by lifting sanctions on Assad if he peels himself away from Iran and cuts off weapons routes to Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
1 comment:
Sounds like Syria is a monkeys proxy war on Iran, just like Ukraine is a proxy war on Russia. This is a mess as another front/ proxy war is planned for Georga. Asia is next with Korea, or the Philippines. These monkeys need culling.
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