UPDATE - Jordan, Iraq advise nationals to leave Syria

​​​​​​​CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, ADDS DETAILS

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Jordan and Iraq advised their nationals Friday to leave Syria amid military developments.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry urged its nationals to evacuate as soon as possible because of the ongoing events in Syria.

It said in a statement that it formed a crisis cell to work on the evacuation of Jordanian nationals and ensure their safe return to the Kingdom.

The Iraqi Embassy in Damascus, meanwhile, urged its nationals who want to leave to contact the diplomatic facility to facilitate travel to Iraq.

In a statement cited by the Iraq state news agency (INA), the embassy asked Iraqis in Syria who wish to leave to register to facilitate travel, along with their Syrian wives, or children of Iraqi women with a Syrian husband.

The Russian Embassy in Damascus advised its nationals earlier Friday “to leave the country on commercial flights through airports in operation,” due to the “difficult military and political situation” in Syria.

-Developments in Syria

Fighting between regime forces and anti-regime groups broke out Nov. 27 in Aleppo’s western countryside.

By Nov. 30, opposition forces had taken control of most of Aleppo’s city center and established dominance across Idlib province.

On Dec. 1, the Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom against the PKK/YPG terror group in the Tel Rifaat district of Aleppo's countryside, liberating the area from terror elements.

Anti-regime forces captured Hama on Thursday and continued to advance Friday, seizing the Rastan and Talbiseh districts in Homs province.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar