ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone call on Monday to discuss recent developments in the region and reaffirm their commitment to combating “terrorism”.

Assad claimed that the recent escalations are driven by larger geopolitical goals aimed at dividing the region, and “redrawing maps to serve the interests of the United States and the West.”

“This escalation will only increase Syria and its army's determination to continue the confrontation to eliminate the arms of terrorism throughout Syrian territory,” said Assad, according to a statement from his office.

Pezeshkian expressed Iran's strong opposition to any efforts undermining Syria's sovereignty and stability, stating that any attack on Syria’s unity is a threat to the broader stability and unity of the entire region.

The Iranian president also pledged Tehran’s full support to Damascus in its fight against “terrorism”, referring to the opposition armed groups.

Iran and Russia have been the main supporters of Assad’s regime throughout the 13-year Syrian civil war.

Thousands of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers were deployed to Syria after 2011, and dozens of other Iran-backed armed groups remain active in the country.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi voiced strong support for Syria during visits to Damascus and Ankara.

“Damascus has overcome more difficult times,” said Araghchi in Ankara on Monday, reaffirming Iran's “full support for President Assad, the Syrian government, the army, and the people.”

Addressing regional tensions, Araghchi claimed that Israel’s aggression on Gaza and Lebanon  are providing opportunities for “terrorists” to regroup. He expressed confidence in the Syrian army's ability to counter these threats, with the backing of resistance groups and Iranian support.

“The return of terrorists is undoubtedly the result of miscalculations,” Araghchi said.

Syrian opposition armed groups, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a surprise offensive against the Syrian army in Aleppo and Idlib countryside on Wednesday, triggering one of the bloodiest escalations in the Syrian civil war in years. The clashes have claimed the lives of over 400 people in less than a week, according to a war monitor.