- 03
- Dec.
- 2024
The situation in Syria is marked by an escalation of tensions, with major clashes on multiple fronts and increased international intervention. From US airstrikes to reinforcements arriving from Iraq and statements from Tehran, the chaos continues to deepen, painting an increasingly complex picture of the ongoing conflict.
US strikes on pro-Iranian militias
The United States intensified its airstrikes on Monday, targeting positions held by pro-Iranian groups in the strategically significant and resource-rich region of Deir ez-Zor.
According to the Pentagon, these strikes aim to protect US forces, concentrated mainly in northeastern Syria (including Deir ez-Zor) and the Al-Tanf garrison, in response to growing threats from these groups. Additionally, the strikes are intended to counter Iranian influence in the area, which Tehran uses to transport weapons to its positions in the western part of the country.
Iraq: A key crossroads
Dozens of fighters from the Hashd al-Shaabi—a coalition of predominantly pro-Iranian paramilitary groups—crossed the Iraq-Syria border near Al-Bukamal to reinforce loyalist troops in northern Syria. According to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, members of the Kataeb Hezbollah, part of this coalition, were among the reinforcements, though the group has denied involvement.
The Liwa Fatemiyoun Brigade, composed of fighters from Afghanistan's Hazara Shia minority and trained by Iran and Hezbollah, was also deployed to bolster forces. Syrian military sources consider these reinforcements crucial to halting the insurgents' advance, which has inflicted heavy losses on government troops, further straining the already under-resourced Syrian army.
Iraqi sources confirmed to Sky News that Iran has flown dozens of Hashd fighters and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to Syria. Additionally, an Israeli Air Force interception reportedly forced one of these flights to return to Iran overnight from Saturday to Sunday, according to Israeli media.
Iran maintains “military advisors” in Syria
During a press conference on Monday, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated Tehran’s commitment to providing military support to its Syrian ally.
“The presence of Iranian advisors in Syria is nothing new (...) and will continue with the consent of the Syrian government,” he said. According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, this stance underscores Tehran’s steadfast backing of Damascus since the civil war began in 2011.
Iran has suffered significant losses in Syria, including several senior officers in Israeli strikes. Last Thursday, a Revolutionary Guard general was killed in clashes with rebel groups in Aleppo, IRNA confirmed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed his country’s determination to provide “all necessary support” to Syria. Following a visit to Damascus, Araghchi traveled to Turkey to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, to discuss the Syrian conflict and strategies for regional stabilization, IRNA reported.
Escalating clashes in Aleppo and Idlib
Loyalist forces are confronting a massive offensive led by rebel groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a coalition dominated by the former Al-Nusra Front. These groups have coordinated attacks in northern Syria, inflicting significant losses on Syrian army forces and capturing several neighborhoods in Aleppo, Reuters reported.
In response, Syrian and Russian air forces intensified strikes on rebel positions in Idlib, also hitting residential areas and causing heavy civilian casualties. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Russian airstrike targeted Aleppo University Hospital on Sunday, killing 12 people.
The White Helmets reported a critical humanitarian situation, with thousands of civilians displaced to already overcrowded camps, according to the Syrian Civil Defense organization.
The intensifying fighting has triggered a fresh wave of internal displacements. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to accommodate the influx of civilians seeking refuge in relatively safer areas, the Syrian Civil Defense noted.
The escalating tensions in Syria highlight the interplay of regional and international rivalries. Between US airstrikes, Iran’s growing involvement, and rebel offensives, Syria has once again become a battleground where local struggles intersect with geopolitical ambitions.
In a region where every intervention reshapes the balance of power, Syria remains trapped in a conflict reflecting global ambitions. Amid strikes, reinforcements, and offensives, one constant persists: the overwhelming burden this war continues to place on an already exhausted population.
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