Tuesday Briefing

Russia and Iran pledged support for Syria’s president

Russia and Iran, the staunchest allies of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, pledged to stand behind his government yesterday, sending warplanes and voicing diplomatic support, as his forces attempted to repel a startling rebel advance.

It remains to be seen if they can back that rhetoric up by stopping the rebels, especially since neither country has committed to sending ground troops. Instead, Russian and Syrian fighter jets were striking targets across territory seized by rebels in northwestern Syria yesterday, according to Syrian state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said the strikes had killed both civilians and fighters. Yet the rebels appeared to continue their advance through Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city, and the surrounding areas, battling pro-Assad forces to capture more territory in Hama Province in western Syria.

Background: Russian and Iranian officials have propped al-Assad up with military and diplomatic aid since the rebellion began to threaten his autocratic rule in 2011.

Go deeper: The rebel group leading the current offensive, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, says it wants to replace the Assad government with one inspired by Islamic principles. Here’s what to know.