Anti-government fighters gather in front of the Kuweires military airfield and academy in the eastern part of Aleppo province on December 1, 2024. Aref Tammawi, AFP/File

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs issued Sunday a statement regarding the ongoing conflict in Syria.

The DFA addressed the involved parties to "exercise restraint" so as to avoid additional deaths in the fighting.

"The Philippines calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, to avert further casualties and deaths of civilians," DFA said.

The agency also called on the Filipinos in Syria and advised them to "take the necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus."

So far, there have been no reports of Filipinos caught in the crossfire or efforts of repatriation, as of Sunday (December 8, 2024).

The chaos in Syria ensued around two weeks ago when the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched its campaign challenging the more than five decades of rule by the Assad family.

Earlier, the HTS also declared Damascus "free" as it reportedly drove away "tyrant" President Bashar al-Assad.

Rebels on Syrian state TV say toppled 'tyrant' Bashar al-Assad