Iran promises full support to Syrian government after rebel attacks

damascus - Iran has pledged full support to the Syrian government following rebel attacks on Aleppo, the country's second city.

Iran stands fully behind the Syrian government of President Bashar al Assad now that rebels have captured Aleppo, the country's second city. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the statement to Syrian and Iranian media after meeting Assad in Damascus.

Tehran has been a loyal ally of Assad during the civil war that erupted in 2011. Iran claims it has no combat troops in Syria, only officers providing military advice and training. The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has been fighting alongside the Syrian government for years.

Last Saturday, Islamist-led rebels seized most of Aleppo, along with the airport and dozens of nearby towns, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Araghchi referred to the surprising rebel offensive as a plot by the United States and Israel. "The Syrian army will once again defeat these terrorist groups, just like in the past," Araghchi said.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that Araghchi will also visit the Turkish capital Ankara after Damascus. NATO member Turkey supports some of the rebel groups fighting against Assad's government.

Russia also confirmed its support for Damascus on Sunday. "The Syrian Arab army, with the assistance of the Russian Air Force, continues its operation aimed at repelling terrorist aggression in the provinces of Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo," the Russian military said in a statement.