Egypt expresses 'concern' over militant attack in Syria
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has expressed his country's concerns regarding a jihadist militant attack in northern Syria. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has reaffirmed Cairo's commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid escalating tensions in the region.
Abdelatty conveyed his concerns regarding a recent surge in violence, where jihadist militants carried out an extensive offensive in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. This statement followed a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart, Bassam al-Sabbagh, on Friday, as detailed by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
He reiterated Egypt's “unwavering support” for Syria and its “national institutions, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” praising Damascus for its efforts in “fostering regional stability and combating terrorism.”
The recent attack was led by the Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham terrorist group, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, along with allied militias who launched an offensive in northern Syria, effectively ending a truce that had been established by Russia and Türkiye in 2020.
The assault, backed by intense shelling, enabled militants to capture several areas that were previously under Syrian military control, including parts of Aleppo for the first time since Syrian forces regained control in 2016. They have also reportedly taken Saraqib, a crucial city in Idlib province.
In response, the Syrian Armed Forces initiated a counteroffensive on Thursday, declaring that they were actively fighting in Aleppo and Idlib “to repel the offensive by terrorist organizations... backed by a large number of armed foreign terrorists.”
An announcement made on Friday indicated that the Syrian military had “inflicted heavy losses” on the militants, resulting in numerous casualties. Additionally, the Syrian authorities temporarily shuttered Aleppo Airport and restricted key access routes to the city. Clashes between government forces and militants have reportedly led to the deaths of at least 27 civilians, according to a UN official cited by Reuters.
Russia has reaffirmed its support for Syria in its efforts to combat jihadist forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that the assault constitutes a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
Russian fighter jets based in Syria conducted airstrikes against the jihadist militants, and Colonel Oleg Ignasyuk, the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, reported during a briefing that over 600 militants were killed by Russian and Syrian forces during two days of counteroffensive operations.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US and Israel of contributing to the resurgence of terrorism in Syria. In a conversation with al-Sabbagh on Friday, Araghchi described the offensive as “an American-Zionist” conspiracy aimed at undermining the Syrian government, which supports Palestine.
On Friday, Türkiye also urged an end to the attacks on Idlib and Aleppo, with its Foreign Ministry stating on X that “the recent fighting has caused… an undesirable escalation of tensions.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
Abdelatty conveyed his concerns regarding a recent surge in violence, where jihadist militants carried out an extensive offensive in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. This statement followed a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart, Bassam al-Sabbagh, on Friday, as detailed by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
He reiterated Egypt's “unwavering support” for Syria and its “national institutions, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” praising Damascus for its efforts in “fostering regional stability and combating terrorism.”
The recent attack was led by the Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham terrorist group, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, along with allied militias who launched an offensive in northern Syria, effectively ending a truce that had been established by Russia and Türkiye in 2020.
The assault, backed by intense shelling, enabled militants to capture several areas that were previously under Syrian military control, including parts of Aleppo for the first time since Syrian forces regained control in 2016. They have also reportedly taken Saraqib, a crucial city in Idlib province.
In response, the Syrian Armed Forces initiated a counteroffensive on Thursday, declaring that they were actively fighting in Aleppo and Idlib “to repel the offensive by terrorist organizations... backed by a large number of armed foreign terrorists.”
An announcement made on Friday indicated that the Syrian military had “inflicted heavy losses” on the militants, resulting in numerous casualties. Additionally, the Syrian authorities temporarily shuttered Aleppo Airport and restricted key access routes to the city. Clashes between government forces and militants have reportedly led to the deaths of at least 27 civilians, according to a UN official cited by Reuters.
Russia has reaffirmed its support for Syria in its efforts to combat jihadist forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that the assault constitutes a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
Russian fighter jets based in Syria conducted airstrikes against the jihadist militants, and Colonel Oleg Ignasyuk, the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, reported during a briefing that over 600 militants were killed by Russian and Syrian forces during two days of counteroffensive operations.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US and Israel of contributing to the resurgence of terrorism in Syria. In a conversation with al-Sabbagh on Friday, Araghchi described the offensive as “an American-Zionist” conspiracy aimed at undermining the Syrian government, which supports Palestine.
On Friday, Türkiye also urged an end to the attacks on Idlib and Aleppo, with its Foreign Ministry stating on X that “the recent fighting has caused… an undesirable escalation of tensions.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
