The news regarding the current situation in several Syrian cities appeared on Charles Lister's profile just after 7 p.m. According to reports from the head of MEI Syria Programs forces subordinate to Bashar al-Assad were forced to evacuate from two strategically important cities.
“Aleppo has fallen. Hama fell. Opposition fighters are fighting the Assad regime in many areas of Daraa and Homs. Fighting against the regime has been confirmed in Damascus,” he wrote.
Several hours earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that jihadist units had penetrated the center and the western outskirts of Aleppo, taking over, among others, the citadel. If the information provided by Lister were confirmed, it would mean that they were fighters of Islamist groups they took over a city of over two million people in just three days.
War in Syria. Islamic fighters on the offensive
Fighting between jihadists and troops subordinated to President Bashar al-Assad intensified on Wednesday. Then Islamic units went on the offensive, attacking several cities, including: Aleppo.
On Friday, representatives of the Syrian army issued a statement admitting that enemy units were in the area “many areas of the city” and therefore there was an urgent reorganization of forces.
“The large number of terrorists and fighting on multiple fronts prompted our armed forces to carry out a regrouping operation aimed at strengthening our defense lines to repel the attack, save the lives of civilians and soldiers and prepare for a counterattack” – written.
According to BBC journalists, citing an anonymous source in the British government, officials, as well as police and intelligence officers were evacuated from the city. Most government buildings remained empty.
Heavy fighting in Syria. Bashar al-Assad asks Moscow for help
Immediately after the information about the jihadists' offensive, reports began to appear in the Russian media regarding possible assistance that could be provided to Syria, Russia. According to reports from Reuters, The Kremlin promised to provide the Syrian army with military equipmentwhich was scheduled to reach Damascus within 72 hours.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense has emphasized several times in its announcements that Russian planes are involved in air attacks on Islamist positions. The information was also confirmed by the representative of the Russian armed forces, Oleg Igansyuk.
He also commented on the situation in Syria press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov.
– Of course, this is a violation of Syria's sovereignty (…) We support the rapid restoration of order and constitutional order in this area by the Syrian authorities, he said, at the same time avoiding answering the question whether Bashar al-Assad will appear in the coming hours Moscow to talk personally to Vladimir Putin.