The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assadstated this Saturday that, with the help of “allies and friends”its Army is capable of defeating the Islamist rebels backed by Türkiyewho have managed to control large areas of the northwest of Syria in four days of offensive.
“Syria continues to defend its stability and territorial integrity against all terrorists and their supporters and is capable, with the help of its allies and friends, of defeating them and eliminate them no matter how severe their terrorist attacks are“Al Assad said in a call with his Emirati counterpart, Mohamed bin Zayed.
According to a statement from the Syrian Presidency, Bin Zayed told Al Assad that the United Arab Emirates “supports the Syrian state in the fight against terrorism”, while reaffirming the importance of maintaining the “sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability” of Syria.
Full control of much of the north
The Syrian president made these statements at a time when the Islamist alliance Levant Liberation Agency and other factions supported by Turkey have taken full control of the northwestern province of Idlib, the city of Aleppo and northern parts of the Hama demarcation, further in the center-north.
This offensive, which began on November 27, has barely encountered any resistance from Al Assad’s troops, who have admitted that they have withdrawn from Aleppo on a “temporary” basis. with the aim of regrouping and launching a counterattack.
Besides, The Syrian Army is supported by Russian aviationwhich has carried out dozens of bombings in the last four days of offensive against rebel positions in Aleppo, Idlib and this Saturday also in Hama, where the Islamists have entered after taking a strategic town in the hands of Al Assad since 2020 .