The chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces has warned that the recent surge of terrorist activities in northwestern Syria is part of a “dangerous” American-Israeli plot to weaken the Syrian government.

According to The Iran Project, Major General Mohammad Baqeri made the remarks in separate phone calls with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, his Iraqi counterpart Major General Yahya Rasool, as well as his Syrian counterpart General Abdul Karim Mahmoud Ibrahim on Tuesday.

They discussed the latest developments in Syria and the resurgence of terrorism in the Arab country.

General Baqeri said the offensive launched by foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists in Syria is the first step of a dangerous scenario for the region, stating that the coincidence of this invasion with the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon indicates a coordinated American-Zionist conspiracy to weaken Syria, its allies, and the Axis of Resistance.