Hundreds of militiamen from Iraq crossed the border into Syria to support the fight against the rebels?

Reuters today, December 2, quoted several sources revealing that hundreds of members of several Iraqi militias backed by Iran have crossed the border into Syria to help the Syrian government fight the rebels.

At least 300 militiamen, mainly from the Badr and Nujabaa groups, crossed into Syria late on December 1 by land, two Iraqi security sources told Reuters.

"These are new reinforcements sent to support our comrades on the northern frontline," a senior Syrian military source told Reuters, adding that the militiamen had crossed the border in small groups to avoid air strikes.

Russian and Syrian aircraft increase bombing of rebel-controlled areas

Hundreds of members of Iraqi militia groups have crossed into Syria to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government fight rebels who seized the northern city of Aleppo last week, sources said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said today that the Syrian army was capable of confronting opposition militias but, referring to regional militias backed by Tehran, he said that "the resistance groups will help and Iran will provide all necessary support".

Members of the Syrian opposition stand in front of Aleppo University after rebels announced they had entered the center of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on November 30.

Syrian government and Russian warplanes stepped up attacks on rebel-held areas in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, residents and rescue workers said.

Last week's blitzkrieg by rebel militias caught many in the region off guard, dealing the Assad regime its biggest blow in years and reigniting a conflict that had seemed frozen for years after the civil war fronts stabilized in 2020, according to Reuters.

The Kremlin said today that Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Syria with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian by phone, according to Reuters. The Kremlin stressed that the two leaders pledged "unconditional support for the actions of the legitimate Syrian authorities to restore constitutional order and restore political, economic and social stability in the Syrian state."

Despite focusing on the war in Ukraine since 2022, Russia still maintains an air base in northern Syria, according to Reuters.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hang-tram-dan-quan-tu-iraq-vuot-bien-vao-syria-de-ho-tro-chong-phe-noi-day-185241202203148547.htm