Egypt Expresses Concern Over Militant Assault in Syria

The Egyptian government has voiced its concerns regarding the recent militant offensive in Syria, calling for a resolution to restore stability in the region.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed Cairo’s concerns about the recent escalation in Syria, where jihadist militants have launched a large-scale assault in the Aleppo and Idlib provinces.

According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty made the statement during a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Bassam al-Sabbagh on Friday, where he was briefed on the situation.

Abdelatty affirmed Egypt’s “steadfast support” for Syria, emphasizing its backing of the nation’s “institutions, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.” He praised Damascus for contributing to “regional stability and efforts against terrorism.”

The terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously called Jabhat al-Nusra, along with allied militias, launched an attack in northern Syria on Wednesday. This action effectively violated the truce that was mediated by Russia and Türkiye in 2020.

The militants, backed by intense shelling, have reportedly managed to overtake several areas once held by the Syrian military and capture parts of Aleppo for the first time since it was reclaimed by Syrian government forces in 2016. Additionally, they are said to have taken control of Saraqib, a key city in Idlib province.

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The Syrian Armed Forces, who initiated a counteroffensive on Thursday, previously stated that they were actively involved in both Aleppo and Idlib “to repel the attack by terrorist organizations… supported by numerous armed foreign militants.”

In a statement released on Friday, the Syrian military claims to have “inflicted heavy losses” on militants, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The authorities temporarily shut down Aleppo Airport and major roads leading into the city. According to Reuters, which cited a UN official, clashes between government forces and militants have led to at least 27 civilian deaths so far.

Russia has promised to back Syria in its fight against jihadist forces. On Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the attack violated Syrian sovereignty.

Russian fighter jets based in Syria conducted airstrikes targeting jihadist militants, according to Colonel Oleg Ignasyuk, the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria. During a briefing on Friday, he reported that at least 600 militants were killed by Russian and Syrian forces over two days during their counteroffensive.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alleged that the United States and Israel were behind the resurgence of terrorism in Syria. During a phone conversation with al-Sabbagh on Friday, Araghchi described the offensive as “an American-Zionist” scheme designed to undermine Syria’s government due to its support for Palestine.

On Friday, Türkiye urged a halt to the attacks on Idlib and Aleppo. The Foreign Ministry posted on X, stating that “the recent fighting has resulted in an undesirable escalation of tensions.”