TEHRAN -- The presidents of Russia and Iran on Monday pledged “unconditional support” to Syria amid a sudden terrorist onslaught in the country’s northwest, Tehran and the Kremlin said. 
In a phone call between Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, “unconditional support was expressed for the actions of the legitimate authorities of Syria to restore constitutional order and to restore the political, economic and social stability of the Syrian state.”
They also “emphasized the importance” of coordinating with Turkey, the Russian side said in its readout of the call. 
Russia, though focused on its war in Ukraine since 2022, retains an airbase in northern Syria.
Pezeshkian said his country is ready for any cooperation with Russia to control the regional situation and help resolve the crisis in Syria, according to the Iranian government’s website.
“We believe that the recent events are part of a dangerous plan by the United States and the Zionist regime to disrupt the geopolitical landscape of the region in favor of Zionists, but this plan will fail thanks to the unity and cooperation of regional countries,” Pezeshkian added.
Terrorists led by takfiri group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo and the countryside around Idlib last week, occupying some territories. 
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Monday said the onslaught is an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with U.S. interests.
His comments in a phone call with President Pezeshkian came as Syrian and Russian jets launched air raids on areas under the control of takfiri and Turkish-backed groups.
With the Syrian army back in control of much of the country after years of shifting battle lines, there had been relative peace and security in the country until last week, when the takfiri-led alliance began its onslaught.
“The terrorist escalation reflects the far-reaching goals of dividing the region and fragmenting the countries in it and redraw the map in line with the objectives of the United States and the West,” a statement from Assad’s office quoted him as saying.
Pezeshkian in turn pledged continued support and said: “We hope that with your tact, strength and fortitude, the country of Syria will pass through this stage with success and victory as it has passed through far more difficult conditions.”
Aleppo, an ancient city dominated by its landmark citadel, is home to two million people and saw fierce fighting earlier in the war. New footage showed terrorists patrolling the streets in some parts of the city, some setting fire to a national Syrian flag and others holding a takfiri flag.
HTS is an alliance led by Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch, and has faced accusations of human rights abuses including torturing detainees. It is fighting alongside allied factions, with units under a joint command backed by Turkey.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah played a key role in backing Syrian forces particularly around Aleppo, but it 
withdrew from several positions to focus on fighting Israel.
No sooner had the ceasefire with the Zionist regime last Wednesday come into effect than the terrorists launched their sudden onslaught against Aleppo. 
Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said a major question hangs over possible Turkish involvement.
“I have a hard time imagining that Turkey-backed groups could launch a major rebel offensive out of Turkey-held areas without Turkey being very significantly involved,” he said.
“But I also don’t think Turkey necessarily wanted the rebels to get this far.”
Syrian Kurds were fleeing the fighting in large numbers after Turkish-backed militants seized Tel Rifaat from rival U.S.-backed Kurdish authorities. The Kurdish-led SDF militants largely withdrew and called for a humanitarian corridor to allow people to leave safely in convoys toward Aleppo and later to Kurdish-led northeast regions.
The recent rapid advance by terrorists in Syria shows that the Syrian president must hold dialogue with the opposition, the Turkish foreign minister said.
At a joint news conference in Ankara with his Iranian counterpart, Hakan Fidan said Turkey and Iran, which support opposing sides in Syria, have agreed to resume diplomatic efforts along with Russia to restore calm.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who visited Assad on Sunday before traveling to Ankara, reiterated Tehran’s full support for the Syrian government. 
Both Fidan and Araghchi said Turkey, Iran and Russia would convene a new three-way meeting to address the conflict in Syria.
“We have decided to hold closer consultations and dialogue, and with God’s permission, we will cooperate to further improve the situation toward peace and stability in our region,” Araghchi said.
Russia has said it will continue to support him.
“We continue our contacts at the appropriate level and analyze the situation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday. “A position will be formed regarding what is needed to stabilize the situation.”