EGN NEWS DESK
BEIRUT — The Syrian army rushed in reinforcements Sunday to push again insurgents from advancing farther into the northern Hama countryside after they seized Aleppo and surrounding strategic places in an adjoining province in a shock offensive.
The insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took over most of Aleppo on Saturday and claimed to have entered town of Hama. There was no unbiased affirmation of their declare. Rebel commander Col. Hassan Abdulghani stated individually the insurgents additionally took management of Sheikh Najjar, also referred to as the Aleppo Industrial City, northeast of town, Aleppo’s army academy and the sector artillery faculty to the southwest.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travels to Syrian capital Damascus later Sunday. He advised reporters that Tehran will again the Syrian authorities and military.
The swift and shock offensive is a large embarrassment for Syria’s President Bashar Assad and raises questions on his armed forces’ preparedness. It additionally comes at a time when Assad’s allies — Iran and teams it backs and Russia — are preoccupied with their very own conflicts.
Syrian state tv claimed authorities forces had killed practically 1,000 insurgents over the previous three days, with out offering proof or particulars.
Government airstrikes in a single day on Idlib metropolis, the rebel-held bastion close to Hama province and 65 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Aleppo, killed 4 civilians and wounded 54 others, in accordance with the Syrian Civil Defense, also referred to as the White Helmets, that operates in opposition-held areas.
According to Syrian state information company SANA and a conflict monitor, the military in a single day pushed again insurgents within the northern countryside of Hama province.
Britain-based opposition conflict monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that authorities reinforcements created a “sturdy defensive position” within the northern Hama countryside.
The observatory and Syrian state-run information community Al-Ikhbariyah additionally reported Russian airstrikes, each in Idlib and a few of the areas now underneath insurgent management.
In his first public feedback for the reason that begin of the offensive, launched by the state information company Saturday night, Assad stated Syria will proceed to “defend its stability and territorial integrity towards terrorists and their supporters.” He added that Syria is ready to defeat them irrespective of how a lot their assaults intensify.
The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning level within the conflict between Syrian authorities forces and insurgent fighters after 2011 protests towards Assad’s rule changed into an all-out conflict. After showing to be shedding management of the nation to the rebels, the Aleppo battle secured Assad’s maintain on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their international backers controlling areas on the periphery.
