News - Middle East: The presidents of Iran and Russia have pledged support for Syria in its battle against terrorism as the Arab country is grappling with a surge in terrorist activities in the north.

In a phone conversation on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, discussed the unfolding security situation in Syria following the Israeli-engineered terrorist offensive in the country.

They warned that the recent terrorist moves in Syria pose a serious threat to stability and security of the Arab nation and the entire region.

Pezeshkian said a ceasefire agreement between the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah and Israel created a glimmer of hope for peace in the region but the terrorist moves in Syria, supported by the Israeli regime, “once again put the region on alert.”

He added that the resurgence of terrorism in Syria would spread insecurity and conflict in the region.

“We believe that the recent incidents are part of a dangerous plan by the US and the Zionist regime to disrupt the region's political geography in favor of the Zionists,” the Iranian president said.

He, however, emphasized that such plots would be thwarted through unity and cooperation among the regional countries.

Pezeshkian commended Russia’s role in maintaining regional peace and stability and its support for Syria’s territorial integrity and expressed Tehran’s readiness to improve cooperation with Moscow in this regard.

For his part, Putin said Russia agrees with Iran that the continuation of terrorist moves in northern Syria would undermine the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity and endanger regional security.

He added that supporters of the terrorists are causing the ongoing incidents in Syria and expressed Russia’s firm determination to cooperate with Iran to help the Syrian government fight the terrorist groups.

He noted that Russia would make use of its utmost capacities and the existing diplomatic channels to prevent the spread of terrorism in the region.

Putin emphasized that Russia has proposed holding an emergency meeting within the format of Astana peace process this week to discuss the developments in Syria.

In an earlier statement, the Kremlin said the Monday phone conversation between Pezeshkian and Putin was focused on the “escalating situation” in Syria.

It added that the pair “expressed unconditional support for the actions of Syria’s legitimate authorities to restore constitutional order and territorial sovereignty.”

Pezeshkian and Putin also “emphasized the importance” of coordinating with Turkey.

Iran and Russia have been the main backers of Syria since the outbreak of foreign-sponsored militancy in March 2011.

In 2017, Syrian forces, backed by Iran and Russia, scored a monumental victory over the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. However, the country’s northern parts remained under control of militants and foreign occupation forces.

On November 27, terror outfits, led by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Shams (HTS), launched their largest attack in Syria in years, taking control of parts of Aleppo, and advancing southward on the city of Hama.

Iran has repeatedly expressed its full support for the Syrian government and army in the battle against terrorists.

In a phone conversation with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, President Pezeshkian said Tehran is ready to improve cooperation with Syria to overcome the ongoing crisis in the Arab country in the wake of the resurgence of terrorism.

The Kremlin said earlier on Monday that it continued to support Assad.

“We of course continue to support Bashar al-Assad and we continue contacts at the appropriate levels, we are analyzing the situation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

He added that Moscow would draw up a “position on what is necessary to stabilize the situation.”

Press TV