Russian embassy in Damascus urges citizens to leave Syria amid rising tensions

The Russian embassy in Damascus has reminded Russian citizens residing in Syria of their option to leave the country due to the challenging military and political situation.

"Amid the complicated military and political situation in Syria, the Russian embassy in Damascus reminds Russian citizens residing in the Syrian Arab Republic of the possibility to depart the country via commercial flights through operational airports," the embassy wrote on Telegram, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

The Russian diplomatic mission also emphasised that both the embassy and consular department continue operating as usual.

On November 27, clashes erupted in the western part of Aleppo province in northern Syria between the forces of Assad's regime and armed groups opposing the regime. From November 27 to 28, the armed groups rapidly advanced from the western areas of Aleppo toward the city centre and, by November 30, took control of most part of Aleppo.

On November 30, the armed groups also seized control of the city of Khan Shaykhun and the entire Idlib province. On December 5, after intense fighting, the opposition took control of the city of Hama. The groups opposing Bashar al-Assad's regime also captured several strategically important towns in Homs province, which they view as "gateways" to Damascus, and began pushing forward. On December 1, the Syrian National Army liberated the Tel Rifaat area from YPG (the Syrian wing of the PKK) terrorists as part of the Operation "Dawn of Freedom".

By Naila Huseynova