Iranian Foreign Minister Rushes To Turkey As Syrian Rebels Seize Aleppo

Following a swift offensive by Syrian opposition forces that captured much of Aleppo, Iran is working to reassure President Bashar al-Assad and engage with key regional players.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, after meeting Assad in Damascus earlier Sunday, traveled to Ankara to discuss the escalating conflict. According to AFP, Araghchi is set to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday, followed by talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The offensive marks the first significant push by opposition forces in four years. By Saturday, they had taken control of large parts of Aleppo, Syria’s former economic hub. The timing of the assault is notable, as Assad’s key allies Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah are currently preoccupied with conflicts involving Ukraine and Israel.

Iran and Turkey have historically backed opposing sides in the Syrian Civil War. While Iran and Russia have been pivotal in supporting Assad’s regime, Turkey has long backed opposition forces. A fragile ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2020 largely paused the fighting, but the recent offensive has shattered that agreement.

Turkey’s role in the conflict is further complicated by its domestic challenges. Hosting 3.2 million Syrian refugees, according to UN estimates, Ankara has sought a cautious rapprochement with Assad in recent years. However, the renewed clashes and opposition gains may disrupt these efforts.

The evolving situation underscores the fragile balance of power in Syria and raises questions about the future of regional diplomacy as the decade-long civil war shows no signs of abating.