Russia, Iran pull out nationals, India issues advisory as rebels continue rapid advance in Syria

The surprise offensive has prompted concern from across borders, including Iran, which have started evacuating its citizens and officials from the war-torn region.

Rebels led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham drive along a street in al-Rashideen, Aleppo province, Syria on November 29. (Reuters File Photo)

The insurgency comes at a moment of relative weakness for three of Syria’s primary allies, which has been curtailed by their own regional conflicts — Iran’s tensions with Israel; Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine; and Hezbollah’s battle against Israel.

Thousands flee Homs as rebels gain ground

The rebels seizure of Daraa came on the heels of Syrian rebels claiming they had reached the country’s third largest city Homs, positioning them to gain ground other town strategic for maintaining President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on power.

An image of Syrian President Bashar Assad, riddled with bullets, is seen on the facade of the provincial government office in the aftermath of the opposition’s takeover of Hama. (Photo: AP)

“Our forces have liberated the last village on the outskirts of the city of Homs and are now on its walls,” the Syrian faction leading the sweeping assault said on Telegram, reported Reuters.

If the Sunni Muslim rebels overtake Homs, it would give way to for them to severe Damascus from the coast. The coast is a stronghold of Assad’s minority Alawite sect and where his Russian allies have a naval base and air base.

Reports said thousands had already fled towards the Mediterranean coastal regions of Latakia and Tartus on Thursday, escaping the rebels’ onslaught into Homs.

Videos circulating online showed highways crowded with vehicles as residents fled Homs.

As per Syrian state TV, at least 200 insurgents were killed on Friday in Russian-Syrian airstrikes targeting rebel headquarters in the countryside of Hama, Idlib and Aleppo, citing the Russian Coordination Centre in Syria.

Turkey urges dialogue, India issues advisory: What have other countries said?

The Russian embassy in Damascus has already instructed Russian nationals to leave Syria, in what is a rare show of alarm as Moscow stays a key ally of Syria’s president al-Assad.

Similarly, Iran started evacuations of its military and embassy personnel, New York Times reported, citing Iranian officials. Among those evacuated to neighboring Iraq and Lebanon were top commanders of Iran’s powerful Quds Forces, the external branch of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, the officials said.

India too raised alarm by issuing an advisory on Friday.

“We have taken note of the recent escalation in fighting in the north of Syria. We are closely following the situation. There are about 90 Indian nationals in Syria, including 14 who are working in various UN organisations,” said Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The White House, meanwhile, said it was closely monitoring developments in Syria.

In a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Syria’s government should enter dialogue with the opposition and initiate a political process, a Turkish foreign ministry source said, reported Reuters.

— With inputs from Reuters, New York Times