Hezbollah backs Syria’s al-Assad as opposition forces intensify offensive

A drone view shows buildings and the ancient citadel, after rebels took the main northern city of Aleppo and have since pushed south from their enclave northwest of the country, in Aleppo [Karam al-Masri/Reuters]

Hezbollah’s secretary-general Naim Qassem has pledged the Lebanese group will stand by the Syrian government amid an advance by “terrorist groups” trying to sow chaos in the country.

“They will not be able to achieve their goals despite what they have done in past days, and we as Hezbollah will be by Syria’s side in thwarting the goals of this aggression as much as we can,” Qassem said on Thursday, adding that the “aggression” is sponsored by the United States and Israel.