An alliance of Syrian rebel factions led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) reportedly seized control of Aleppo over the weekend….reports Asian Lite News
The United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom have all called for de-escalation in Syria, where rebels have marched on government-controlled areas in the past few days, reigniting violence in the 13-year-long conflict.
An alliance of Syrian rebel factions led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) reportedly seized control of Aleppo over the weekend. Syrian President Bashar Assad announced a counteroffensive, launching airstrikes with the help of allies.
Syrian and Russian airstrikes on the rebel-held city of Idlib in northwestern Syria killed at least 25 people, the opposition-run rescue service White Helmets, said early on Monday. Assad’s army also said it had recaptured several towns from the rebels.
In a joint statement late on Sunday, the US, the UK, France and Germany urged the protection of civilians and infrastructure “to prevent further displacement and disruption of humanitarian access.”
“The current escalation only underscores the urgent need for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict,” in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, the statement added.
The 2015 resolution calls for peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition forces. The rebels began their offensive against the Syrian government on November 27 and have been moving southward into Hama Province after the attack on Aleppo.
Meanwhile, Jordan and Iraq on Sunday reaffirmed support for the unity, sovereignty, and stability of their neighbouring country of Syria.
During a phone call, King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani the latest regional developments, particularly the situation in Syria.
The king emphasised Jordan’s solidarity with Syria, reaffirming its support for Syria’s territorial unity, sovereignty, and stability, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. On Sunday, both Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held phone talks with their Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh.
Safadi expressed Jordan’s concern over the developments in Syria, stressing the importance of intensifying efforts to reach a political solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis that resolves its consequences, restores Syria’s security and stability, preserves its sovereignty, and eliminates terrorism, according to a statement by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.
In their talks, the two Ministers agreed to maintain communication and continue efforts to achieve security and stability. Meanwhile, in his phone call with Sabbagh, Hussein said destabilising the security and stability of Syria poses a threat to the security of Iraq and the region in general, urging regional cooperation to address security challenges and combat extremism.
On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive rocked the western countryside of the Syrian province of Aleppo, the first significant attack since 2016. The assault was carried out by a coalition of rebel groups, mainly the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked extremist organisation, to penetrate government-held territories.
On Friday, the rebels swept into parts of Aleppo after they were driven out of the city in 2016. On Saturday, they advanced in Hama province in central Syria and took control of numerous towns and villages in the northern part of the province, after capturing key territories in Aleppo and Idlib.
Faced with overwhelming numbers of militants and multiple attacks, the Syrian army announced a temporary redeployment of its forces. Syria’s state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported on Sunday that the government forces launched a counteroffensive in the northern countryside of Hama, reclaiming key areas from the rebel groups.
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