Iran, Syria underscore halt to Israeli aggression on Gaza, Lebanon

Iran and Syria have discussed further solidification of bilateral relations amid heightened escalation in the region as they underscore the need for putting an end to Israel’s atrocious onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met in the capital Damascus on Thursday, with their talks revolving around the latest developments in the region, not least the Israeli regime’s ongoing aggression on Gaza and southern Lebanon.

The two exchanged their views on Tehran-Damascus relations and the means of enhancing them in the interest of their nations and regional countries.

Larijani, also a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, stressed the Islamic Republic’s standing by Syria and its willingness to provide all forms of support for it, hailing the pivotal role of Damascus in the region and aspiration to boost the role in the service of regional states and their people.

Assad, for his part, underlined his country’s adherence to the Palestinian historic rights and support for the struggle of the Lebanese and Palestinian people with all means.

The Syrian president also called for stopping Israel's massacres and an end to the occupying regime's mass genocidal crimes.

Larijani also met with Speaker of Syrian People's Assembly Hammoudeh Sabbagh and discussed the expansion of ties between the two countries.

On the sidelines of his visit to Damascus, the senior Iranian official held a meeting with the leaders of Palestinian resistance groups in Iran's Embassy in the Syrian capital and expressed the Islamic Republic’s staunch support for Palestine.

"It was a good opportunity for me to meet with various officials from Palestinian friends, and they had very good viewpoints concerning the continuation of their struggles. We agree with these friends that resistance is a means that is useful for the blessing of the Muslims of the world and the region… which makes the struggles of the Palestinian people come to fruition,” Larijani told reporters after the meeting.

“We support the noble struggles of the Palestinian people, and God blesses them and, God willing, victory is near.”

Larijani left Syria for Lebanon on Friday morning. He is set to hold talks with Lebanese officials on the latest developments in the region.

Syria demands concerted efforts to stop Israeli atrocities against regional states

Syria has called for concerted efforts in order to stop Israeli atrocities against regional states.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

The regime’s bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed more than 43,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 103,000 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.

Israel also launched a ground assault and massive air campaign against Lebanon in late September after a year of exchanging fire across the Lebanese border in parallel with the Gaza war.

At least 3,287 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the last year, with the vast majority in the past seven weeks. Another 14,222 have been wounded, mostly women and children.

The Axis of Resistance has over the past year launched hundreds of missiles at the Israeli-occupied territories in support of Gaza and Lebanon, not least in the last couple of months since the regime killed top resistance leaders, including Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

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