Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Monday branded an Islamist-led offensive that has captured swathes of territory an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with US interests.
His comments in a phonecall with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian came as Syrian and allied Russian warplanes launched deadly raids on rebel-controlled areas.
Both Russia and Iran back Assad, and say they will help his forces fight back after Aleppo, Syria's second city, fell out of government control.
"The terrorist escalation reflects the far-reaching goals of dividing the region and fragmenting the countries in it and redraw the map in line with the objectives of the United States and the West," a statement from Assad's office quoted him as saying.
Pezeshkian pledged continued support and said: "We hope that with your tact, strength and fortitude, the country of Syria will pass through this stage with success and victory."
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and allied factions took Aleppo at the weekend, except for neighbourhoods controlled by Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
They also seized Aleppo International Airport. Abu Sufyan, a rebel commander, told AFP: "God willing, we will continue, go into Damascus and liberate the rest of Syria."
On Monday, Syrian and Russian air raids on several areas of Idlib province in the northwest killed 11 civilians including five children, the Observatory said.
Other strikes in Aleppo killed four civilians, two of them children, the Observatory said, adding that air raids also targeted a Christian-majority neighbourhood.
Islamist-led rebels killed six civilians on Monday in a rocket attack on the government-held city of Hama, the Observatory said
1733247124-0/032136238e63876-(1)1733247124-0-270x192.webp "us monitors situation in south korea after president yoon declares martial law")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ