Russia strongly supports Syrian leadership, claiming that rebels receive external backing – Russia, Iran, and Turkey in “close contact”
The Syrian army launched a counteroffensive today to repel rebels advancing near Hama, a strategically significant city in central Syria. The offensive follows the rebels’ capture of much of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, in the north, according to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The rebel coalition, led by the radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), advanced to the outskirts of Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city. In response, President Bashar al-Assad’s army dispatched reinforcements to defend the area.
“Regime forces launched a counterattack after midnight,” supported by airstrikes, successfully pushing back HTS fighters, the Observatory reported.
The Syrian state news agency SANA confirmed that the army continues operations against “terrorist organizations” in Hama province, reporting heavy clashes northeast and northwest of the city.
The Observatory, headquartered in the UK with extensive sources in Syria, described the fighting as “intense battles.” Government forces reportedly regained control of two nearby villages, pushing HTS fighters back approximately 10 kilometers from Hama.
Strategic importance of Hama
A Syrian military source told SANA on Tuesday that “significant military reinforcements” were deployed to defend Hama, a crucial city situated along the highway connecting Aleppo to the capital, Damascus.
Footage aired on Syrian state television showed empty squares in Hama overnight, with soldiers and police stationed in key areas. The Observatory reported that the fighting has displaced “dozens of families” from western and northern parts of Hama province.
The loss of Aleppo has dealt a significant blow to Assad’s government, as it was a key stronghold in the north.
Russia: Firm support for Syria’s leadership
Russia reaffirmed its strong support for Syria’s leadership today, condemning the rebel offensive as an attack by “terrorist organizations” receiving external backing, including drones and training.
“We strongly condemn this attack… There is no doubt that such a bold action could not have been carried out without the instigation and comprehensive support of external forces seeking to provoke a new round of armed confrontation in Syria,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a press briefing.
Russia, a key ally of Assad, has been providing military support to his regime since 2015 in Syria’s civil war.
“We express our solidarity with Syria’s leadership,” Zakharova added. “We strongly support Syrian authorities’ efforts to combat terrorist organizations and restore constitutional order.”
She also alleged, without providing evidence, that rebels—some originating from former Soviet countries—had received drones and training from Ukraine.
Russia, Iran, and Turkey cooperating
Zakharova noted that the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, and Turkey—key players in the Syrian conflict—are in close contact to stabilize the situation amid the rebel offensive.
“The foreign ministers of the three guarantor countries” of the Astana Process, a negotiation framework for Syria, “are in close communication,” she said.
“We hope that all states with influence on the ground in Syria will use it to restore security and stability in the country as soon as possible,” she concluded.
Separately, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported that Mohsen Komei, an advisor on international affairs to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is currently in Moscow.
Also read: 16 dead in clashes as Syrian forces repel pro-Kurdish fighters
Source: ANA-MPA
