Dozens of Iranian-backed militias crossed into Syria from Iraq overnight to bolster Syrian government forces amid escalating clashes with insurgents in the north. Syrian army sources confirmed the reinforcements, which included fighters from Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah and the Fatemiyoun brigades.
The renewed conflict erupted following a sweeping insurgent offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda-linked group, and other rebel factions backed by Turkey. These forces captured key areas of Aleppo in a rapid assault that overwhelmed Syrian army defenses, leaving government forces in retreat.
In the rebel-held Idlib province, Russian airstrikes have intensified, targeting neighborhoods and critical infrastructure. The White Helmets, a Syrian civil defense organization, reported that five healthcare facilities, including a maternity hospital, were struck, resulting in 18 deaths and 35 injuries.
Russia, alongside Iran, has been a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, intervening in the Syrian civil war nearly a decade ago to back his regime.
#Aleppo and parts of #Idlib, captured nearly bloodlessly by the Syrian opposition, are now under merciless assault. Russian and regime forces are brutally targeting healthcare facilities. This harrowing footage shows the moment the university hospital in Idlib was bombed today.… pic.twitter.com/0YhDP9Ygzi
— MG (@MhdAGhanem) December 2, 2024
The Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterated its support for Damascus, emphasizing that deployments were made at the Syrian government’s request. Russian and Iranian leaders have also reaffirmed their “unconditional support” for Assad during diplomatic exchanges, underscoring the high stakes of maintaining Syria within their sphere of influence.
The United States has reiterated its condemnation of Assad’s regime, describing him as a “brutal dictator” and maintaining sanctions against Syria. Reports suggest that Washington and the UAE have discussed conditional sanctions relief if Assad were to distance himself from Iran and Hezbollah, although this remains speculative. Iraq and Jordan have also engaged in dialogue.
