Hezbollah, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has pledged to support the Syrian government in its fight against opposition forces. This comes as rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have captured several strategic cities in central Syria, including Hama.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an end to the fighting and warned that tens of thousands of civilians are at risk. Guterres said the conflict is the result of a “chronic collective failure” of diplomacy and urged all parties to protect civilians.
Hezbollah’s secretary-general Naim Qassem vowed to stand by Assad amid reports of an advance by “terrorist groups”. Qassem accused Israel and the US of sponsoring the aggression. The comments came hours after rebels captured Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on al-Assad to find a “political solution” to the war. Erdogan said Turkey will continue to reduce tensions and protect civilians. Hezbollah is currently observing a fragile ceasefire agreement with Israel, after a year of war that has devastated Lebanon’s south.
The conflict in Syria has resulted in over 280,000 displaced people, according to the UN World Food Programme. The escalating conflict is seen as a result of a “region already on fire”, with Guterres urging all parties to take responsibility for protecting civilians.
With al-Assad relying heavily on Russian and Iranian backing, some opposition groups have established ties with Turkey. Erdogan’s country has become home to about three million Syrian refugees since the war started in 2011.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/5/hezbollah-backs-syrias-al-assad-as-opposition-forces-intensify-offensive