INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Syrian military and its ally Russia conducted fatal joint air raids on locations under Islamist-led rebel control on Monday, as they
battle a lightning offensive that has actually wrested swathes of Syria from government control.Syrias President Bashar al-Assad is backed
by Russia and Iran, both of which have confirmed they will assist his army fight back after Aleppo, the countrys second city, fell out of
federal government control.Syria has been at war given that Assad cracked down on democracy demonstrations in 2011, and the dispute has
considering that drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, and left 500,000 individuals dead.With Assads army back in control of much of the
country after years of shifting battle lines, the conflict had been mostly inactive till last week, when an Islamist-led rebel alliance
released an offensive.During the weekend, the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and allied factions took control of Aleppo city,
disallowing neighborhoods controlled by Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.For the first time because the
civil war began more than a decade ago, the nations 2nd city runs out control of Syrian program forces, Observatory director Rami Abdel
Rahman said on Sunday.Aleppo, an ancient city dominated by its landmark castle, is home to 2 million people, and was the scene of strong
fights previously in the conflict.But until this weekend, the rebels were never ever able to completely take over.AFPTV video revealed
rebels in military tiredness patrolling the streets of Aleppo, with some setting fire to a Syrian flag and others holding up the green, red,
black and white flag of the revolution.While the streets appeared to be mainly empty, some were out to cheer for the advancing fighters.HTS
is an alliance led by Al-Qaedas former Syria branch
It is battling along with allied factions, with systems taking orders from a joint command.On Monday, air raids performed jointly by the
Syrian and Russian air forces on numerous locations of Idlib province in northwest Syria killed 11 civilians, including 5 children,
according to the Observatory
displaced families living on the edge of a displacement camp, stated Hussein Ahmed Khudur, a 45-year-old teacher who looked for haven at
the camp from battling in Aleppo province.He said one of the kids who passed away was a trainee of his, and that the other four were his 4
sisters.Russia, which initially stepped in straight in the Syrian war in 2015, stated Monday it continued to support Assad
We naturally continue to support Bashar al-Assad and we continue contacts at the suitable levels, we are analyzing the scenario, Kremlin
spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists.Irans top diplomat Abbas Araghchi, remained in Syria on Sunday to provide a message of
assistance, state media said.On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei stated the Islamic republic had entered Syria at
the main invite of Assads federal government
Our military advisers existed in Syria, and they are still present
The existence of advisers from the Islamic Republic of Iran in Syria is not a new thing, he said.Limited utilityWhile the battling is
rooted in a war that started more than a decade earlier, much has changed given that then.Millions of Syrians have actually ended up being
displaced, with around 5.5 million living in neighboring countries.Most of those involved in the preliminary anti-Assad protests are either
dead, living in exile or in jail.Russia is at war in Ukraine, and Iran's militant allies Hezbollah and Hamas have been enormously weakened
by more than a year of conflict with Israel.On Monday, Iran's foreign ministry said it would keep its military support for the Syrian
government.But the role of Lebanons Hezbollah, which played a crucial role in backing the federal government especially around Aleppo,
remains in question particularly after it withdrew from several of its positions to focus on battling Israel.HTS and its allies began their
offensive on Wednesday, simply as a ceasefire worked in Lebanon after more than a year of war between Hezbollah and Israel.The violence in
Syria has actually killed more than 457 people, mostly combatants but also including at least 72 civilians, according to the Observatory,
which has a network of sources inside Syria.The Observatory said rebel advances met little resistance.Aaron Stein, president of the United
States -based Foreign Policy Research Institute, said Russias presence has actually thinned out considerably and quick reaction air strikes
have actually restricted energy
He called the rebel advance a reminder of how weak the regime is
Air strikes on Sunday on parts of Aleppo were the very first given that 2016
One resident told AFP most locals were holed up at home
LostAron Lund of the Century International think tank said: Aleppo appears to be lost for the routine
He included: And a federal government without Aleppo is not really a practical government of Syria
Rebels have actually also taken dozens of towns throughout the north, consisting of Khan Sheikhun and Maaret al-Numan, approximately halfway
between Aleppo and Hama, the Observatory said.AFPTV video footage revealed rebels pressing into Hama province in main Syria, along with army
tanks and equipment abandoned on the roadside.The United States and its allies France, Germany and Britain called Sunday for de-escalation
in Syria, and for the protection of civilians and infrastructure.The United States maintains numerous troops in northeast Syria as part of
an anti-jihadist coalition.Parallel to the HTS-led offensive, pro-Turkey factions in northern Syria attacked Kurdish fighters in Aleppo
province on Sunday, with the Observatory stating they seized the strategic town of Tal Rifaat and neighboring villages.On Monday, in light
of the takeover of Tal Rifaat, a United States -backed, Kurdish-led force in Syria stated it is looking for to evacuate Kurds around Aleppo
to safe locations under its control.
