Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Sunday, expressing strong support for Syria as the nation faces a sudden and significant rebel offensive. The visit coincides with intensified fighting in Aleppo and Idlib, where Syrian forces are working to reclaim territory lost to insurgent advances.

Rebel Offensive Strains Syrian Forces

Last week, rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a coordinated assault, capturing parts of Aleppo and advancing toward Hama. The insurgents also seized strategic military sites, including Aleppo’s military academy. Syrian state media reported the deaths of nearly 1,000 insurgents during counteroffensives, though these figures remain unverified.

Russian airstrikes have supported Syrian efforts to push back, but civilian casualties have been reported, with the White Helmets attributing at least 18 deaths to government-led attacks. Despite these efforts, the swift rebel offensive has exposed weaknesses in Assad’s military preparedness.

Regional Tensions Rise

Araghchi’s visit underscores Iran’s enduring alliance with Assad, but it also comes amid broader Middle East instability. Both Russia and Iran, key allies of Syria, are stretched thin by other geopolitical concerns. Meanwhile, Türkiye, backing opposing groups in the conflict, complicates the fragile dynamics.

The violence in Syria adds another layer of tension to a region already destabilized by conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. With Iran and Türkiye set to discuss the crisis, analysts warn of the risks of broader confrontations that could exacerbate the Middle East’s already volatile landscape.