Suche
Mein Konto
Russia warns: Terrorists must not win in Syria!
Russia, Türkiye and Iran are calling for an immediate end to fighting in Syria as rebels gain ground. Lavrov emphasizes the need for dialogue between the government and the legitimate opposition.
Russia warns: Terrorists must not win in Syria!
The world is watching Syria! Amid a dramatic push by the opposition that poses a serious threat to President Bashar al-Assad's rule, the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey have joined forces in a powerful appeal. Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, calls for an immediate end to hostilities in the crisis-hit country!
At a meeting at the Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday, Lavrov stressed that Russia, Iran and Turkey are determined to stop "hostile activities" in Syria. “We want to promote dialogue between the government and the legitimate opposition,” said Lavrov. The situation in Syria is deteriorating as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters conquer key cities such as Aleppo and Hama at a breathtaking pace.
A dramatic advance by the opposition
The rebels on Friday reached the strategic city of Homs, a link between the capital Damascus and the coastal regions where al-Assad receives support from the Alawite community. An opposition commander reported on Telegram that HTS troops have already launched “operations” in Homs. Fighters have also made significant progress in Deraa and Sweida, in southwest Syria, and have taken control of some towns around Damascus.
“The Syrian government has lost control of most of the country,” Al Jazeera reporter Resul Serdar reported from Kilis, near the Turkish border. “We see a Syrian government that is much weaker than in 2016, when it was heavily supported by Russia, Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.” The absence of Russian troops withdrawn due to the Ukraine conflict has created a power vacuum that the opposition is trying to exploit.
An appeal to the international community
Lavrov and his colleagues from Iran and Turkey have agreed on a strong joint statement. “We call for the immediate implementation of UN Resolution 2254, which emphasizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria,” Lavrov said. This resolution calls for an inclusive, Syrian-led political process to resolve the years-long conflict.
“We are absolutely convinced that it is unacceptable to use terrorists like the HTS for geopolitical purposes,” Lavrov added. The Russian government is trying to maintain control of the situation while the opposition advances inexorably. But analysts warn that Moscow has been caught off guard by the rapid developments and has no clear plan to keep al-Assad in power.
“The Russians are extremely busy in Ukraine and have withdrawn the majority of their military equipment and personnel from the Khmeimim air base to Ukraine,” Serdar said. “All these factors have created a vacuum that the opposition is trying to exploit.” The world will be watching closely to see how the situation in Syria develops!