Italy monitors Syria developments with urgent attention

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced Sunday that Italy is closely observing the rapid developments in Syria “with concerned attention.”

Sharing the update on X, Tajani revealed he has been in regular contact with Italy’s Embassy in Damascus. He also stated that an emergency meeting at the ministry was convened before noon to address the situation.

- Developments in Syria

Clashes erupted on Nov. 27 between Assad regime forces and anti-regime groups in rural areas west of Aleppo, a key northern Syrian city.

On Nov. 30, anti-regime forces captured most of Aleppo’s center and secured full control of Idlib province. Last Thursday, following intense battles, they seized the city center of Hama.

In the strategically vital province of Homs, which serves as a gateway to Damascus, opposition forces captured key settlements and continued advancing.

On Friday, opposition groups launched an operation in Daraa province near the Jordanian border, reclaiming the city center. The same day, they took control of Suwayda province in the south and Quneitra’s provincial center.

By Saturday, anti-regime groups had taken the provincial center of Homs and entered Damascus’ southern suburbs. Regime forces abandoned critical locations, including the Defense and Interior ministries and Damascus International Airport.

By Sunday morning, the Assad regime had lost all control of Damascus.

Separately, in “Operation Dawn of Freedom” launched on Dec. 1, the opposition Syrian National Army liberated the Tel Rifaat district center from the PKK/YPG terrorist organization in Aleppo's rural areas.