Iran pledges additional support to Syria, says foreign minister
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Tehran will support Damascus in the fight against jihadists posing a threat to the entire region. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Tehran plans to assist Damascus in resisting the jihadist threat in Syria, which Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi argues poses a risk to the entire region.
The al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), initiated a surprise assault from its base in Idlib last week, breaching a ceasefire that was established in 2020 through the efforts of Russia and Türkiye. So far, HTS militants have captured the cities of Aleppo and Hama, leading to the displacement of over 280,000 individuals.
“The Takfiri terrorist groups have hatched a long-term plot to cause insecurity and violence in the region,” Araghchi stated on Friday after a meeting with his Iraqi and Syrian counterparts in Baghdad.
“Our goal is to strengthen consultations and coordination in order to support the Syrian government and people,” he further noted.
During the Baghdad meeting, both Iran and Iraq committed to aligning their policies concerning Syria. Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani emphasized that the crisis in Syria has a “clear impact” on Iraqi security and must be contained.
“It is imperative that we stand united to protect Syria’s unity, sovereignty and the safety of its people,” highlighted Iraqi President Latif Rashid.
Earlier this week, Araghchi mentioned that Tehran would contemplate a direct military intervention in Syria if requested by Damascus. A senior official, who chose to remain anonymous, conveyed to Reuters that Iran has already been supplying intelligence and satellite data to President Bashar Assad’s administration.
“It is likely that Tehran will need to send military equipment, missiles and drones to Syria,” the Iranian official indicated, also revealing that Iran has already “taken all necessary steps to increase the number of its military advisers in Syria and deploy troops.”
The conflict saw militants backed by the US and some regional powers begin an armed insurgency against Damascus in 2011. In 2014, a splinter group from al-Qaeda declared itself the ‘Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’ (ISIS) amid the chaos. The following year, Russia responded to Assad’s request by sending an expeditionary force to assist the Syrians in pushing back both ISIS and other militant threats. Iran and the Lebanese Shia militia, Hezbollah, also supported the Damascus government.
Kurdish militias, partnered with the US, played a crucial role in defeating ISIS in northwestern Syria but later chose not to reconnect with Damascus, maintaining control over the country’s agricultural and oil resources. Additionally, Türkiye intervened in 2017 to prevent the Syrian army from overrunning Idlib province, HTS’s last stronghold, later expressing its commitment to a political solution in Syria.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
The al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), initiated a surprise assault from its base in Idlib last week, breaching a ceasefire that was established in 2020 through the efforts of Russia and Türkiye. So far, HTS militants have captured the cities of Aleppo and Hama, leading to the displacement of over 280,000 individuals.
“The Takfiri terrorist groups have hatched a long-term plot to cause insecurity and violence in the region,” Araghchi stated on Friday after a meeting with his Iraqi and Syrian counterparts in Baghdad.
“Our goal is to strengthen consultations and coordination in order to support the Syrian government and people,” he further noted.
During the Baghdad meeting, both Iran and Iraq committed to aligning their policies concerning Syria. Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani emphasized that the crisis in Syria has a “clear impact” on Iraqi security and must be contained.
“It is imperative that we stand united to protect Syria’s unity, sovereignty and the safety of its people,” highlighted Iraqi President Latif Rashid.
Earlier this week, Araghchi mentioned that Tehran would contemplate a direct military intervention in Syria if requested by Damascus. A senior official, who chose to remain anonymous, conveyed to Reuters that Iran has already been supplying intelligence and satellite data to President Bashar Assad’s administration.
“It is likely that Tehran will need to send military equipment, missiles and drones to Syria,” the Iranian official indicated, also revealing that Iran has already “taken all necessary steps to increase the number of its military advisers in Syria and deploy troops.”
The conflict saw militants backed by the US and some regional powers begin an armed insurgency against Damascus in 2011. In 2014, a splinter group from al-Qaeda declared itself the ‘Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’ (ISIS) amid the chaos. The following year, Russia responded to Assad’s request by sending an expeditionary force to assist the Syrians in pushing back both ISIS and other militant threats. Iran and the Lebanese Shia militia, Hezbollah, also supported the Damascus government.
Kurdish militias, partnered with the US, played a crucial role in defeating ISIS in northwestern Syria but later chose not to reconnect with Damascus, maintaining control over the country’s agricultural and oil resources. Additionally, Türkiye intervened in 2017 to prevent the Syrian army from overrunning Idlib province, HTS’s last stronghold, later expressing its commitment to a political solution in Syria.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
