The Syrian military, with the backing of its Russian allies, launched a series of counterattacks after anti-government rebels seized Aleppo, the country's second-largest city, on Saturday.
State media reported that airstrikes targeted locations of resistance in Aleppo and Idlib, while ground troops were sent to the Hama province in the northwest to establish defensive positions.
Syrian government officials maintain the operation has effectively repelled the insurgents and recaptured several towns, despite claims from opposition leaders of ongoing territorial advances.
On Sunday, the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, met with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad to reaffirm Tehran’s support for the Damascus regime.
The surprise attack on Wednesday, led by Islamist militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has been part of an ongoing effort to topple Assad since the group's formation in 2017.
Turkish security officials, who support certain factions in the region, stated the maneuvers were initially intended to be limited but inadvertently expanded after Syrian forces withdrew from crucial areas as the fighting began.
