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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on November 30 vowed to fight terrorist groups conducting a large-scale offensive in the north of the country during two separate phone calls with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, who pledged support.
The terrorist groups, led by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, launched the offensive earlier in the week, entering the strategic city of Aleppo and capturing dozens of towns in the countryside of Idlib and Hama.
The attack began as al-Assad was on a visit to Moscow, reportedly to hold important talks with the Russian leadership on recent developments in the region.
Right upon returning to the country, al-Assad held a phone call with the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He stressed Syria’s ongoing commitment to defending its stability and territorial integrity “in the face of all terrorists and their backers,” during the call, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
For his part, the UAE president said the country “stands with the Syrian state and supports it in combating terrorism, extending its sovereignty, unifying its territories, and achieving stability,” the state-run agency said.
Al-Assad also held phone talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, during which the latter stressed that “Syria’s security and stability are closely linked to Iraq’s national security.”
Al-Sudani also said that the security in Iraq and Syria affects regional security and efforts to establish stability in the Middle East, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi prime minister’s media office.
It’s worth noting that both Russia and Iran, Syria’s top allies, have already vowed to support the country in its fight against terrorist groups.
The offensive in northern Syria violated multiple agreements with Turkey. Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkey had given a green light to the offensive. However, Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said Turkey sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned that recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements.
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