Syria Conflict Escalates: Iraqi Militias Support Assad

Iraqi Militias Rush to Assad's Aid in Syria

“These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the front lines in the...”

The Syrian conflict has taken a new turn with Iraqi militias joining forces with Assad's army to counter opposition gains.

Iranian-backed militias from Iraq have entered Syria to support the government's counteroffensive against rebels who recently seized Aleppo, Syria's largest city. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition war monitor, approximately 200 Iraqi militiamen crossed into Syria overnight on pickups.

A senior army official confirmed the deployment of these reinforcements, stating, “These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the front lines in the north,” as reported by Reuters. The situation in Aleppo and Idlib remains volatile, with fighting ongoing between government forces and insurgents led by the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The insurgents launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo last week, gaining control of parts of the city and surrounding countryside in Idlib and Hama provinces. In response, Syrian and Russian airstrikes have targeted rebel positions primarily in Idlib and Hama.

A recent airstrike in Syria, carried out by the Syrian and Russian governments, resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people, according to the civil defense organization, the White Helmets. In response to the incident, a Russian government spokesperson reaffirmed their support for Bashar Assad, stating, “we of course continue to support Bashar Assad and we continue contacts at the appropriate levels.”

Iran has also reiterated its support for the Syrian government. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei announced that advisors from Tehran would remain in Syria, saying, “We entered Syria many years ago at the official invitation of the Syrian government, when the Syrian people faced the threat of terrorism.” Furthermore, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus and announced Tehran's full support for his government, stating, “I clearly announce full-fledged support to President Assad, government, army and people of Syria by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The conflict in Syria has also led to the displacement of Syrian Kurds, who are fleeing the fighting in large numbers. This comes after Turkish-backed rebels seized Tal Rifaat from US-backed Kurdish authorities. In light of the escalating violence, Western governments have issued a call for de-escalation in the Syrian conflict.