Syrian rebels announced on Wednesday that they have taken "complete" control of the city of Deir al Zur in eastern Syria, the capital of the homonymous province, as they continue to advance in the offensive in that area of the country.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to destroy Assad's army arsenal to prevent it from falling into the hands of uncontrolled groups, with new bombings against air defense posts, radars, and weapons and ammunition depots.
On the other hand, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that his country moved Bashar Assad "in the safest way possible" after being overthrown as president of Syria. "He is protected, which shows that Russia is acting appropriately in such an extraordinary situation," Ryabkov said in an NBC News interview aired on Tuesday.
When asked if Russia would hand over Assad to be tried, Ryabkov replied that "Russia is not part of the convention that established the International Criminal Court," implying that his country will continue to support Assad.
Israel continues to destroy the Syrian army's arsenal
The Israeli military aviation continued on Wednesday to destroy the arsenal of the deposed Syrian President Assad's army with new attacks against air defense posts and radars, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reports 352 Israeli bombings in four days.
The NGO stated that Israeli fighters attacked this morning "an air defense post" and an "early warning site" in the villages of Bilah and Al Balata, north of the Mediterranean city of Tartus, a stronghold of the Assad family.
Other targets attacked are two radar positions south of that city and on the outskirts of the also Mediterranean city of Latakia, where Russia - a Damascus ally - has its bases.
The Observatory indicated that during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the Israeli army also bombed a barracks in Al Joura, in the city of Deir Al Zur in the east of the country, "resulting in the destruction of military aircraft and radar equipment."
Iran's Jameneí blames the US and Israel for Assad's fall
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Jameneí, blamed the United States and Israel on Wednesday for the fall of the deposed President Bashar Assad in Syria, an ally of Tehran and part of the so-called Axis of Resistance.
"There is no doubt that what has happened in Syria is the result of a joint American-Zionist (Israeli) plan," said Iran's top political and religious authority in his first speech after Assad's escape from the Arab country.
Jameneí stated that Washington and Tel Aviv are the "main conspirators" in the overthrow of the Syrian president, of which he claimed to have evidence. "We have evidence of this. This evidence leaves no doubt," he said in his speech delivered to "thousands of people" from various sectors of Iranian society at the Imam Khomeini Mosque.
The religious leader also stated that a "neighboring country of Syria has played an obvious role" in the overthrow of the Syrian president, an apparent reference to Turkey, which supports some of the militias involved in the rapid rebel offensive.
Pakistan evacuates 350 citizens stranded in Syria
Pakistan has evacuated 350 of its citizens from Syria, including the 245 pilgrims who were stranded in the country after the fall of the Assad regime.
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement issued last night that the Pakistanis who remained stranded in Syrian territory had crossed the border between Syria and Lebanon.
Hours earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced that the repatriation of citizens was a "top priority" for his government.
Kurdish Syrians reach ceasefire with rebels in Manbech (north)
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an armed alliance led by Kurdish Syrians, announced on Wednesday that they have reached a ceasefire, with US mediation, with Syrian rebels supported by Turkey to withdraw "as soon as possible" from the city of Manbech in northern Syria.
"While our fighters in the city of Manbech continue their resistance to stop the expansion of attacks west of the Euphrates River, we have reached a ceasefire agreement in Manbech with US mediation to ensure the safety of civilians," said the SDF commander-in-chief, Mazlum Abdi, in a statement reported by Efe.
He indicated that the Manbech Military Council - integrated into the SDF and controlling the city located in the north of Aleppo province - "which has been resisting attacks since November 27, will withdraw from the area as soon as possible," as stated in the note. "Our goal is to achieve a general ceasefire in all Syrian territories and start a political process for the future of the country," Abdi concluded.
Rebels seize Deir al Zur city from Kurdish Syrians
The insurgents announced on Wednesday that they have seized control of the city of Deir al Zur in northeastern Syria and the capital of the homonymous province from the Kurdish Syrian forces, while they continue to advance in that area of the country.
Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Abdelghani, acting as the military spokesperson for the insurgent coalition, stated on the official Military Operations Command account that their forces "have taken complete control of the city of Deir al Zur," as reported by Efe.
Assad "is protected in Russia"
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that his country moved Bashar Assad "in the safest way possible" after being overthrown as president of Syria by a lightning rebel offensive. "He is protected, which shows that Russia is acting appropriately in such an extraordinary situation," Ryabkov said in an NBC News interview aired on Tuesday.