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Russia and Iran Pledge Support for Syria’s al-Assad Against Advancing Rebels

In just a few days, a patchwork of rebel forces has seized control of a broad stretch of land in the west and northwest of Syria. But it’s unclear just how much support Syria’s weakened allies can provide.

Russia and Iran Pledge Support for Syria’s al-Assad Against Advancing Rebels at george magazine
The airstrikes came as the rebel forces continued advancing in the west and northwest of Syria.Omar Haj Kadour/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s staunchest allies, Russia and Iran, pledged unconditional support to his government on Monday, sending warplanes and voicing diplomatic support as his forces attempted to repel a startling rebel advance in his country’s northwest.

Russian and Syrian fighter jets were striking targets across territory seized by rebels in northwestern Syria on Monday, according to Syrian state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said the strikes had killed both civilians and fighters.

Yet the rebels appeared to continue their advance through Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city, and the surrounding areas, battling pro-Assad forces to capture more territory in Hama province, in western Syria.

Russian and Iranian officials stood by Mr. al-Assad in a flurry of statements, phone calls and public appearances on Monday, suggesting that they would continue to prop him up with military and diplomatic aid, as they have done since the Syrian civil war first threatened his autocratic rule in 2011.

But it remains to be seen if they can back that rhetoric up by halting the rebel advance, especially since neither have committed to sending ground troops to shore up Mr. al-Assad. Just the fact that the rebels were able to seize a large expanse of government-held territory in a few days showed weaknesses in the partnership that had helped Mr. al-Assad survive years of conflict.

Where Rebels Have Advanced

Syrian opposition fighters have pushed back government forces around Aleppo. Areas of control are approximate.

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Note: Advance since late Nov. shown as of Dec. 2.

Source: Janes

By Samuel Granados

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