The recent escalation of the conflict in northwestern Syria has forced nearly 50,000 people to flee, according to the UN. Europe now fears a new wave of refugees. Diplomatic meetings are intended to prevent worse things from happening.
More than 48,500 people were displaced in Syria as of November 30, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (Okha) said on Monday. The jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian branch of the Al Qaeda terrorist network, and affiliated groups launched a surprisingly major offensive against government forces in northern Syria on Wednesday.
They managed to bring the city of Aleppo almost completely under their control. Russia, which is an ally of Assad, then carried out airstrikes on the city for the first time since 2016.
“Astana” meeting planned
The foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey and Russia are expected to meet on December 7 and 8 to discuss the situation in Syria. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced this on Monday (local time), according to state media.
The meeting in the so-called “Astana constellation” will take place on the sidelines of a forum in Doha. The three countries met for the first time in 2017 for a conference in the Kazakh capital Astana.
At the time, Russia started negotiations together with Turkey, which supports the rebels, with moderate success. The government in Moscow and Iran are allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Astana took place under the auspices of the United Nations (UNO).
West fears a new crisis
Following the recent outbreaks of violence in Syria, the West has now called for de-escalation. He also wants to prevent a new wave of refugees. According to insiders, the Syrian army received support from pro-Iranian militias from Iraq on Monday evening, as a result of the invasion of Aleppo by Syrian rebels.
Russia confirmed that it wanted to continue supporting Syria against the rebels. Turkey – like Western states – called for a political solution to the conflict.
Assad’s government forces withdrew from Aleppo this weekend after the revival of the Syrian conflict and a surprisingly rapid advance by Islamist rebels. According to the Syrian opposition, the rebels will not stop fighting anytime soon. The government must become involved in the UN process, it said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
