Syria's army: Strategic retreat before counteroffensive
The Syrian military stated on Saturday that it is temporarily withdrawing its forces from the million-strong city of Aleppo to "prepare a counter-offensive against the terrorists", reports Reuters.
In the statement, the armed forces also state that they are waiting for "reinforcement". Earlier, the news agency reported that government forces are waiting for additional help from Russia to arrive.
The statement comes after the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said most of Syria's second-largest city had been captured by rebels whose offensive began earlier this week.
Analysis: The regime's grip on power has become fragile
The Syrian war has long seemed to be a frozen conflict, but the ongoing offensive in the country has turned everything upside down, writes Alex Rossi in an analysis on Sky News.
"What is happening now is a big blow to the government because it shows how fragile its grip on power has become," he writes.
Rossi believes that there are several reasons why the offensive, which led to the capture of Aleppo by rebels, is being carried out now. One of the reasons is that Russia, which supported President Bashar al-Assad, now has its military focus elsewhere.
Ellen Knickmeyer at the AP news agency writes in an analysis that the fighting poses a risk of "another violent front opening in the Middle East". She points out that the president has been at odds with opposition forces for 13 years.
"The push is the rebels' strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have spread far beyond the country's borders," she writes.
The Syrian military stated on Saturday that it is temporarily withdrawing its forces from the million-strong city of Aleppo to "prepare a counter-offensive against the terrorists", reports Reuters.
In the statement, the armed forces also state that they are waiting for "reinforcement". Earlier, the news agency reported that government forces are waiting for additional help from Russia to arrive.
The statement comes after the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said most of Syria's second-largest city had been captured by rebels whose offensive began earlier this week.
Analysis: The regime's grip on power has become fragile
The Syrian war has long seemed to be a frozen conflict, but the ongoing offensive in the country has turned everything upside down, writes Alex Rossi in an analysis on Sky News.
"What is happening now is a big blow to the government because it shows how fragile its grip on power has become," he writes.
Rossi believes that there are several reasons why the offensive, which led to the capture of Aleppo by rebels, is being carried out now. One of the reasons is that Russia, which supported President Bashar al-Assad, now has its military focus elsewhere.
Ellen Knickmeyer at the AP news agency writes in an analysis that the fighting poses a risk of "another violent front opening in the Middle East". She points out that the president has been at odds with opposition forces for 13 years.
"The push is the rebels' strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have spread far beyond the country's borders," she writes.
Several countries in talks about the situation in Syria
Several ministerial-level phone calls were held between Iran, Russia, Turkey and Qatar on Saturday regarding the rebel offensive in Syria, news agencies reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi claimed in a conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that the jihadists' attack is part of an "Israeli-American plan to destabilize the region", according to Reuters.
Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underlined the need for "joint action to stabilize the situation", according to AFP.
At the same time, word comes that the rebels have captured the airport in Aleppo.
Several ministerial-level phone calls were held between Iran, Russia, Turkey and Qatar on Saturday regarding the rebel offensive in Syria, news agencies reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi claimed in a conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that the jihadists' attack is part of an "Israeli-American plan to destabilize the region", according to Reuters.
Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underlined the need for "joint action to stabilize the situation", according to AFP.
At the same time, word comes that the rebels have captured the airport in Aleppo.
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