Allies of Bashar al-Assad’s regime are moving into northern Syria, where last week a coalition of rebel groups launched an offensive to take control of several cities, including Aleppo.
Several Iraqi troops supported by Iran have already arrived in Syria. The military is heading to the northern region to reinforce the fight against the rebel offensive launched last week.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says that, at Damascus’ request, it will keep military officers on the ground.
Among the reinforcements that have now arrived on the ground are also fighters from the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah – one of the allies of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
What’s happening in Syria?
Last week, a coalition of rebel groups led by the Islamic group HTS, the former Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, launched a deadly lightning offensive and took control of most of Aleppothe second largest city in the country, and several other cities in the north of the country.
The group is considered one of the most “deadly” in the fight against the Assad regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) says that, since the beginning of this offensive, 61 civilians, 137 members of Bashar al-Assad’s pro-regime forces and 214 rebels have died.
However, more civilians flee regime-controlled territory to rebel areas than vice versa. And since rebels took control of Aleppo and several other Syrian cities, civilians who had been displaced for years have begun to return home.
“The important thing is that I am in my country, at home. (…) We are back, safe and healthy. We will return whether Assad likes it or not”, says Youssef, 65, one of the displaced Syrians.
President of Syria promises “strength” to eradicate “terrorism”
Last Sunday, the Syrian President promised to use “force” to eradicate “terrorism”.
“Terrorism only understands the language of force and it is with this language that we will break and eliminate it, whoever its supporters and sponsors are,” said al-Assad.
