Kremlin: Russia closely monitors situation in Syria, maintains dialogue with Damascus

The administration of the Russian President is closely monitoring the situation in Syria and maintains ongoing communication with its Syrian partners, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.  

Peskov stated that they are currently paying close attention to developments in Syria, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"We remain in constant dialogue with our Syrian friends in Damascus,” he said.

Peskov noted that, depending on the situation's assessment, "we can discuss the level of assistance required by the Syrian authorities to deal with the militants and eliminate this threat."

Note that, on November 27, a coalition of Syrian opposition factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched their most significant military operation in years, just hours after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon took effect. The attack targeted Syrian regime positions in Aleppo province, with the opposition quickly advancing as regime forces retreated.

In a matter of days, the opposition seized control of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, and the entire Idlib governorate, pushing towards the outskirts of Hama. This sudden and unexpected offensive has reignited a conflict that many had believed to be “frozen” and challenges the perception that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has triumphed in the 13-year war.

The recent success of the opposition is attributed to the weakening of Assad's coalition forces, notably Russia, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed groups. Russian forces, having been impacted by the war in Ukraine and the loss of critical Wagner Group mercenaries, have reduced their presence in Syria, particularly in air support.

Hezbollah has also suffered heavy losses in its ongoing conflict with Israel, further diminishing its role in Syria. Additionally, frequent Israeli airstrikes have weakened Iran's military presence in the country.

In contrast, the opposition has grown more organized and disciplined in recent years, benefiting from better equipment through local production, weapons seized from the regime, and external support. With the regime’s forces depleted and demoralized, the opposition’s momentum has raised hopes for the revival of peace negotiations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev