Rebels Gain Ground in Syria as Military Prepares for Offensive
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Damascus, Dec 1 (NationPress) The militant faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its coalition of opposition groups are making advances in the central province of Hama, following their capture of essential territories in the northwestern provinces of Aleppo and Idlib. This comes as the Syrian Defense Ministry has announced that the army is preparing to launch a counterattack.
In a notable turn of events, the HTS, a group linked to al-Qaida, took control of Aleppo International Airport on Saturday, marking it as the first civilian airport to fall under the HTS's authority, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The insurgents are currently advancing towards Hama, securing control over numerous towns and villages in the northern region of the province, amid reports indicating rapid withdrawals by government forces, as reported by Xinhua, citing a Britain-based war monitor.
This rebel advancement has led to significant shifts in the area, including the departure of Iranian-backed militias and the relocation of Kurdish units on the northwestern edges of Aleppo.
The Syrian Defense Ministry stated in a release on Saturday evening that any claims regarding the army's retreat from Hama are inaccurate.
"We confirm that our armed forces are stationed at their designated posts in the northern and eastern countryside of Hama province and are fully equipped to thwart any possible terrorist assaults," it stated.
"The operation to counter the terrorist offensive is progressing with determination and success, and we will soon transition to a counteroffensive to reclaim all lost territories," added the ministry in a separate statement.
During a phone conversation with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday, both the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani expressed their support for Damascus.
The UAE President affirmed that the nation "stands with the Syrian state and backs its efforts in combating terrorism, restoring its sovereignty, unifying its territories, and achieving stability," as reported by Xinhua, citing Syria's state news agency SANA.
Al-Sudani remarked, "Syria's security and stability are inherently tied to Iraq's national security" and play an essential role in regional stability and efforts to secure peace in the Middle East, according to a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's media office.
In their Saturday conversation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov conveyed their "decisive" support for Syria's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as backing the Syrian government and army in their battle against "terrorist groups."
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its air force has conducted strikes against Syrian rebels to support the national army, according to Russian news agencies.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also voiced concerns over the rising tensions during a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh, reiterating Egypt's commitment to supporting Syrian national institutions and underscoring "Syria's crucial role in promoting regional stability and combating terrorism."
On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive targeted the western countryside of Aleppo, marking the first significant attack since 2016. This assault was executed by a coalition of rebel factions, primarily the HTS, aiming to breach government-held areas.
On Friday, rebels surged into various sections of Aleppo after being expelled from the city in 2016. Confronted with overwhelming numbers and multiple assaults, the Syrian army announced a temporary redeployment of its forces.
