Mexico City, Mexico, December 3, 2024 (venezuelanalysis.com) – The Venezuelan government declared its solidarity with the Syrian government and President Bashar al-Assad following attacks by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the province of Aleppo.
“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically condemns all hostilities against the people of the Syrian Arab Republic, carried out by terrorists led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which have caused significant harm to the civilian population and worsened the humanitarian situation in Aleppo province,” read the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published Saturday.
The communique further called for “an immediate end to the support provided by major Western powers and the Netanyahu regime” for the rebel forces attacking the Assad government.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reiterated Caracas’ stance in a phone call with Assad on Monday.
HTS appears to have been motivated by a perceived weakness of its rivals in Hezbollah and Assad. The attacks by HTS, a former Al Qaeda affiliate, and their surprise rapid advances came following a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, opening up a new phase in the 13-year-old armed conflict.
The Venezuelan government’s statement accused HTS’ backers of seeking to “destabilize the entire region of West Asia.” The Syrian army and local allies are presently engaged in fierce clashes with HTS in the Aleppo and Hama provinces.