Syria’s president has said his country will “defend its stability and territorial integrity” after rebels reportedly took control of most of the country’s second-largest city Aleppo.
In his first public comments since the start of the offensive, Bashar al Assad said the regime would defeat the “terrorists and their supporters”.
In comments released by the state news agency, he added that Syria is able to defeat them no matter how much their attacks intensify.
Read more:
Rebels ‘take control’ of airport and seize most of Syria’s second city
A setback for the regime, or the start of a major escalation?
On Saturday thousands of insurgents took over most of Aleppo, controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province.
They faced little to no resistance from government troops, according to fighters and activists.
Thousands of fighters also seized towns and villages in northern Hama, a province where they had a presence before being expelled by government troops in 2016.
The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Assad, and raises questions about his armed forces’ preparedness.
The insurgents, led by the Salafi jihadi group, Hayat Tahrir al Sham, and including Turkey-backed fighters, launched their shock offensive on Wednesday.
They first staged a two-pronged attack in Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, entering Aleppo two days later.
By Saturday evening, they had seized at least four towns in the central Hama province and claimed to have entered the provincial capital.
The insurgents staged an attempt to reclaim areas they controlled in Hama in 2017 but failed.
Syria’s armed forces said in a statement on Saturday that to absorb the large attack on Aleppo and save lives, it redeployed troops and equipment and was preparing a counter-attack.
The statement acknowledged that insurgents entered large parts of the city but said they have not established bases or checkpoints.
A statement from the White House said the US was “closely monitoring the situation”.
“The Assad regime’s ongoing refusal to engage in the political process outlined in UNSCR 2254, and its reliance on Russia and Iran, created the conditions now unfolding, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in northwest Syria.
“At the same time, the United States has nothing to do with this offensive.
“The United States, together with its partners and allies, urge de-escalation, protection of civilians and minority groups, and a serious and credible political process that can end this civil war once and for all with a political settlement consistent with UNSCR 2254.”