As the Syrian conflict intensifies,Iran has reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Assad regime,pledging to provide “everything necesary” to ensure its survival.This declaration comes amidst a dramatic escalation of fighting that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and emboldened rebel forces.
The united nations estimates that at least 370,000 Syrians have been forced from their homes due to the ongoing violence. Simultaneously occurring, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made it clear that pro-Turkish forces, aligned with the opposition, are steadfast to reach the Syrian capital, Damascus.
“After Idlib, Hama and Homs, obviously the objective will be Damascus. The march of the opposition forces continues. We hope that this advance in Syria continues without incidents or problems,” Erdogan stated, speaking to journalists after Friday prayers in Istanbul.
Erdogan also revealed that Turkey had extended an invitation to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to discuss the future of Syria together. “We made an appeal to Bashar Al assad, we said ‘come on, let’s determine the future of Syria together’. Unluckily, we did not receive a positive response regarding this,” he said.
The rapid advance of rebel forces has prompted neighboring countries Lebanon and Jordan to close their borders with Syria. In a significant growth, Syrian jihadist rebels have seized control of the Nassib border crossing with Jordan.
Further north, rebels who captured the city of Hama yesterday are pushing south towards Homs, Syria’s third-largest city. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the rebels are now just five kilometers from Homs after taking control of the towns of Rastan and Talbisseh. Capturing homs would allow the rebels to “cut the main road leading to the Syrian coast,” a stronghold of the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs.
In response to the rebel advance, Russian warplanes launched airstrikes north of Homs, targeting rebel columns. The Observatory reported that the jets took off from the Russian air base of Hmeimim on the Mediterranean coast after Russian forces lost control of Hama airport.
The momentum of the rebel offensive extends to southern Syria as well. Daraa and Suwayda, the two main cities in the region, have fallen under the control of local anti-government forces. In Daraa, Sunni insurgents took control of government positions after the withdrawal of Damascus troops. In Suwayda, with its Druze majority, local elites facilitated a handover between retreating government forces and Druze authorities.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Kurdish-Syrian forces, affiliated with the Syrian wing of the PKK, have entered the eastern city of Deir az Zor and seized control of the airport after government forces withdrew. Their leader, Mazloum Abdi, expressed openness to dialog with pro-Turkish Islamic rebels, stating that the rebels’ victories signal a “new” political reality.
“We want a de-escalation with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other parties and resolve our problems through dialogue,” Abdi told reporters, “including with Turkey. “We were surprised to see the sudden and rapid collapse of Syrian government forces on the front lines,as factions took control of large areas,imposing a new political and military reality,” he added.
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of the HTS militia spearheading the armed opposition in Syria, emphasized in a rare interview with CNN that the goal of the pro-turkish rebels is to overthrow the Assad regime. The interview was conducted in a secret location in Syria as HTS forces captured Hama.
“The goal of the revolution is the overthrow of this regime.It is our right to use all available means to achieve that goal,” Jolani said. “Syria deserves an institutional system of government, not one in which a single ruler makes arbitrary decisions.”
Adding another layer of complexity, cells of the Islamic State (ISIS) have reportedly mobilized along the lower euphrates valley, taking advantage of the power vacuum left by retreating government forces.Local sources indicate that ISIS cells have also become active in the Badiya,the steppe region in central Syria along the Homs-Palmyra road.
In a symbolic victory, pro-Turkish rebel forces have seized control of the Syrian city of Hama, dismantling longstanding symbols of the Assad regime’s authority. Among the most striking images to emerge from the takeover is the toppling of a colossal statue of Hafez al-Assad, the father of Syria’s current president, Bashar al-Assad.
The statue, a prominent fixture in Hama since 2011, was brought down amidst jubilant cheers from the rebel fighters. International media outlets, including Al Jazeera television, have broadcast footage of the scene, showing jubilant rebels waving to civilians near a roundabout, while others paraded through the streets on military vehicles and mopeds.
“The rebels,after conquering Hama,tore down the symbols of the regime that had firmly held the Syrian city as 2011,including the enormous statue of the father of the former Syrian president,Hafez al-Assad,amidst shouts of the militiamen,” reported international media.
The fall of Hama marks a significant development in the ongoing Syrian civil war, which has raged for over a decade. The city’s capture by rebel forces, many of whom are jihadists aligned with Turkey, represents a blow to the Assad regime and its allies.
## Expert Interview: syria at a Crossroads
**World Today News:** The Syrian conflict has entered a dangerous new phase. With rebel forces making unprecedented advances on multiple fronts, some analysts are suggesting the Assad regime is on the verge of collapse. Too shed light on these developments, we’re joined by Dr. [Expert Name], professor of Middle Eastern Studies at [University Name] and leading expert on the Syrian conflict. Dr. [Expert name], thank you for joining us.
**Dr. [Expert Name]:** Thank you for having me.
**WTN:** The past few weeks have been genuinely shocking. rebel forces have captured Hama and are pushing towards Homs. They even control the nassib border crossing with Jordan. How significant are these developments?
**Dr. [Expert Name]:** These developments are incredibly significant. We’re witnessing a seismic shift in the Syrian conflict. The capture of Hama, a strategic city in central Syria, represents a major blow to the Assad regime.
The advance towards Homs is even more significant. If rebels capture it, they will effectively cut off a crucial supply route to the Alawite heartland on the coast, putting even more pressure on the regime. Control of the Nassib border crossing further isolates the assad regime economically and could lead to a flood of refugees fleeing towards Jordan.
**WTN:** What are the implications of Turkey’s involvement,particularly President Erdogan’s statement that opposition forces are marching on Damascus?
**dr. [Expert Name]:** Turkey’s involvement has been a game changer. Their support for opposition forces, particularly those aligned with Ankara’s interests, has bolstered rebel morale and provided them with essential military assistance. Erdogan’s declaration about Damascus could be a signal of Ankara’s intent to escalate its involvement and potentially even push for Assad’s removal.
**WTN:** What about Iran’s pledge of “everything necessary” to support the Assad regime? Can they still effectively bolster Assad’s position in light of these battlefield losses?
**Dr. [Expert Name]:** Iran’s unwavering
support for Assad is crucial for his survival, but it faces significant challenges. While Tehran can provide
military aid and financial assistance, it may be insufficient to reverse the momentum of the
rebel offensive.Iran’s ability to intervene effectively is also limited by its own internal economic
problems and the international sanctions it faces.
**WTN:** Could this situation lead to a negotiated settlement, or are we heading towards a further escalation of violence and possibly even regional conflict?
**Dr. [Expert Name]** That’s the million-dollar question. As the situation on the ground
rapidly evolves, the possibility of a negotiated settlement appears increasingly remote in
the short term. All sides seem entrenched in their positions, and the prospects
for compromise appear slim.
However, the rapidly changing dynamics of the conflict may eventually compel all
parties to the negotiating table. A wider regional conflict, while a possibility, remains
unlikely unless a major power directly intervenes.
**WTN:** What about the syrian peopel caught in the middle of this conflict? What is their fate likely to be?
**Dr. [Expert Name]:** unluckily, the Syrian people continue to bear the brunt of this devastating conflict. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with millions displaced and facing food shortages, lack of access to healthcare, and constant threat of violence.
Nonetheless of the outcome of the conflict, the Syrian people will face a long and arduous road to recovery.
**WTN:**
dr. [Expert Name], thank you for sharing your valuable insights with us.
**Dr.[Expert Name]:** Thank you for having me.
