Russia, Iran and Türkiye are calling for the end of hostility in Syria!

Russia, Iran and Türkiye are calling for the end of hostility in Syria!

In a dramatic appeal, the Foreign Minister of Russia, Iran and Turkey have called for immediate termination of hostility in Syria! While the opposition troops under the banner of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) are stunning at a breathtaking speed and conquering strategically important cities like Aleppo and Hama, President Bashar al-Assad sees himself a serious challenge.

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, commented on Saturday as part of the Doha Forum in Qatar and emphasized the urgency of a dialogue between the Syrian government and the legitimate opposition. "We are calling for an immediate end of enemy activities," said Lavrov and underlined the need to fully implement the UN Resolution 2254. This resolution obliges Syria to "sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity" and emphasize the importance of an inclusive, Syrian political process.

The situation in Syria escalates

The offensive of the rebels has made alarming progress in the past few days. According to reports, the fighters have reached the border with Homs, a strategically important city that connects the capital Damascus with the coastal regions, where al-Assad receives support from the Alawite community. A commander of the opposition announced that the HTS troops have already started "operations" in Homs.

The location is tense: In Deraa and Sweida in southwestern Syria, the opposition troops also gained ground and brought some cities around Damascus under control. According to reports, the Syrian government has lost control of a large part of the country and is now significantly weaker than in 2016 when it was strongly supported by Russia, Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Russia on the defensive

The situation is tightened by the absence of Russian military resources. Al Jazera-Reporter Resul Serdar reported from Kilis that the Russians are heavily involved in the conflict in Ukraine and have deducted many of their military equipment and troops from the Khmeimim air base to Ukraine. "All of these factors have created a power vacuum," he said.

lavrov assured that Russia is doing everything they can to prevent terrorists like HTS. "We try to do everything to prevent terrorists from gaining the upper hand, even if they claim that they are no longer terrorists," he said. But experts like Samuel Ramani from the Royal United Services Institute warn that Moscow was surprised by the quick developments in Syria and has no clear plan to keep al-Assad in power.

"You watch the situation like us, and do not seem to have a clear plan to keep al-Assad in office," said Ramani. The geopolitical situation in Syria remains tense, while the three countries continue to search for paths to stabilize the situation and to promote peace.