The Syrian military and its ally Russia conducted fatal joint air raids on locations under Islamist-led rebel control on Monday, as they battle a lightning offensive that has actually wrested swathes of Syria from government control.Syrias President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia and Iran, both of which have confirmed they will assist his army fight back after Aleppo, the countrys second city, fell out of federal government control.Syria has been at war given that Assad cracked down on democracy demonstrations in 2011, and the dispute has considering that drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, and left 500,000 individuals dead.With Assads army back in control of much of the country after years of shifting battle lines, the conflict had been mostly inactive till last week, when an Islamist-led rebel alliance released an offensive.During the weekend, the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and allied factions took control of Aleppo city, disallowing neighborhoods controlled by Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.For the first time because the civil war began more than a decade ago, the nations 2nd city runs out control of Syrian program forces, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said on Sunday.Aleppo, an ancient city dominated by its landmark castle, is home to 2 million people, and was the scene of strong fights previously in the conflict.But until this weekend, the rebels were never ever able to completely take over.AFPTV video revealed rebels in military tiredness patrolling the streets of Aleppo, with some setting fire to a Syrian flag and others holding up the green, red, black and white flag of the revolution.While the streets appeared to be mainly empty, some were out to cheer for the advancing fighters.HTS is an alliance led by Al-Qaedas former Syria branch.
It is battling along with allied factions, with systems taking orders from a joint command.On Monday, air raids performed jointly by the Syrian and Russian air forces on numerous locations of Idlib province in northwest Syria killed 11 civilians, including 5 children, according to the Observatory.
The strikes targeted ...
displaced families living on the edge of a displacement camp, stated Hussein Ahmed Khudur, a 45-year-old teacher who looked for haven at the camp from battling in Aleppo province.He said one of the kids who passed away was a trainee of his, and that the other four were his 4 sisters.Russia, which initially stepped in straight in the Syrian war in 2015, stated Monday it continued to support Assad.
We naturally continue to support Bashar al-Assad and we continue contacts at the suitable levels, we are analyzing the scenario, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists.Irans top diplomat Abbas Araghchi, remained in Syria on Sunday to provide a message of assistance, state media said.On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei stated the Islamic republic had entered Syria at the main invite of Assads federal government.
Our military advisers existed in Syria, and they are still present.
The existence of advisers from the Islamic Republic of Iran in Syria is not a new thing, he said.Limited utilityWhile the battling is rooted in a war that started more than a decade earlier, much has changed given that then.Millions of Syrians have actually ended up being displaced, with around 5.5 million living in neighboring countries.Most of those involved in the preliminary anti-Assad protests are either dead, living in exile or in jail.Russia is at war in Ukraine, and Iran's militant allies Hezbollah and Hamas have been enormously weakened by more than a year of conflict with Israel.On Monday, Iran's foreign ministry said it would keep its military support for the Syrian government.But the role of Lebanons Hezbollah, which played a crucial role in backing the federal government especially around Aleppo, remains in question particularly after it withdrew from several of its positions to focus on battling Israel.HTS and its allies began their offensive on Wednesday, simply as a ceasefire worked in Lebanon after more than a year of war between Hezbollah and Israel.The violence in Syria has actually killed more than 457 people, mostly combatants but also including at least 72 civilians, according to the Observatory, which has a network of sources inside Syria.The Observatory said rebel advances met little resistance.Aaron Stein, president of the United States -based Foreign Policy Research Institute, said Russias presence has actually thinned out considerably and quick reaction air strikes have actually restricted energy.
He called the rebel advance a reminder of how weak the regime is.
Air strikes on Sunday on parts of Aleppo were the very first given that 2016.
One resident told AFP most locals were holed up at home.
LostAron Lund of the Century International think tank said: Aleppo appears to be lost for the routine.
He included: And a federal government without Aleppo is not really a practical government of Syria.
Rebels have actually also taken dozens of towns throughout the north, consisting of Khan Sheikhun and Maaret al-Numan, approximately halfway between Aleppo and Hama, the Observatory said.AFPTV video footage revealed rebels pressing into Hama province in main Syria, along with army tanks and equipment abandoned on the roadside.The United States and its allies France, Germany and Britain called Sunday for de-escalation in Syria, and for the protection of civilians and infrastructure.The United States maintains numerous troops in northeast Syria as part of an anti-jihadist coalition.Parallel to the HTS-led offensive, pro-Turkey factions in northern Syria attacked Kurdish fighters in Aleppo province on Sunday, with the Observatory stating they seized the strategic town of Tal Rifaat and neighboring villages.On Monday, in light of the takeover of Tal Rifaat, a United States -backed, Kurdish-led force in Syria stated it is looking for to evacuate Kurds around Aleppo to safe locations under its control.