Oleg Ignasyuk, a high-ranking Russian official, reported that Syrian troops, supported by Russian military aircraft, have successfully eliminated over 400 insurgents in Aleppo and Idlib, as per a statement made to Russia’s TASS news agency on Nov. 28.
According to the official, terrorists infiltrated Aleppo on Nov. 29 and engaged in combat with Syrian government forces on the city’s western outskirts. Witnesses in Aleppo reported residents fleeing due to missile attacks and gunfire.
The assault, launched from Idlib Province, is allegedly led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, deemed a terrorist organization by the US, Russia, and Turkey. While Ankara supports some “moderate” anti-Assad factions in Idlib, Damascus and its allies, including Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, view all opposing groups as terrorists.
These groups have been primarily based in Idlib for the past five years, where a de-escalation zone was established in 2019 under a trilateral agreement involving Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
Despite the ongoing offensive, which Moscow has called for the restoration of order in, the main highway connecting Aleppo to Damascus remains closed due to the conflict.
Reports suggest that the Syrian army, with support from Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, has inflicted significant losses on the insurgents. However, on Nov. 29, Turkey’s Anadolu news agency indicated that the insurgents had made gains in Idlib and Aleppo, capturing villages and military equipment.
Unverified reports from Iranian media confirmed the death of a senior military adviser from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps in the fighting. Additionally, the UN’s deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria expressed deep concern over civilian casualties, with at least 27 civilians, including children, reported dead in the last three days.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman warned against the resurgence of terrorist groups in Syria, labeling the offensive a violation of the 2019 de-escalation agreement in Idlib.
Rumors have circulated about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad traveling to Moscow for urgent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the speculation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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