Assad appears on TV to send a message to doubters: I'm still here
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Iran launched a double-pronged diplomatic offensive yesterday to secure the release of nearly 50 of its nationals held by Syrian rebels, a hostage crisis that has the potential to suck Tehran into a more active role in the conflict.
A stalwart supporter of the Syrian regime throughout the 17 months of violence, Iran's Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, travelled to the Turkish capital, Ankara, yesterday where he called for the two nations to end the conflict. This, despite Tehran's fierce criticism of Turkish support for the rebels in the past, shows the country's desperation to secure the release of the hostages, who rebels have threatened to execute.
In what appeared to be an effort to reassure its old-time ally over its actions, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, flew to Damascus for a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, after which he vowed that Iran would continue to support the regime. During the meeting Mr Assad pledged to crush "terrorist" groups destabilising the country. "The Syrian people and their government are determined to purge the country of terrorists," he said. The meeting appeared to be filmed in a room in the Al Shaab presidential palace, and will further scotch rumours that Mr Assad had fled the capital.
Tehran maintains that the 48 hostages, seized from a bus over the weekend, were Shia pilgrims. However, rebels claim they are members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sent to fight for the regime.
A Free Syrian Army spokesman said on Monday that three captives had been killed in a regime air strike, and the remaining 45 would be put to death unless the assault was called off.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments