Strategic Loss for Iran with Fall of Resistance Axis's Last Link

Strategic Loss for Iran with Fall of Resistance Axis's Last Link
Iranian Officials' Statements Reveal Scale of Tehran's Shock from Strategic Ally's Rapid Fall in Damascus
December 15, 2024, 7:03 pm

إيران

Senior Iranian officials began criticizing former ally Syrian regime president Bashar al-Assad following his harsh defeat. Revolutionary Guard commander Hussein Salami drew painful lesson from Syria events, emphasizing necessity learning from them.

Explained Iranian forces and advisors "didn't go to Syrian territory for annexation, but defending Muslims," per his claim. Salami reviewed during third annual military research selection conference Syria's unfortunate developments, adding "Israel now capable watching everything inside Damascus households with naked eyes.. truly unbearable."

Confirmed "his country sought preserving Syrians' dignity" through intervention. General Rasoul Sanai-Rad, political affairs official in Iranian Armed Forces General Command's Ideological-Political Office, concluded Sunday former Syrian regime president made massive assessment error.

Added greatest calamity exceeding Assad's miscalculations "represented Syrian people's partial deception submission, despite knowing armed groups' history and seeing foreign terrorist organizations among them," per his expression.

Considered "those behaviors like dancing with wolves, forming important lesson." Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently revealed country's September warning to Damascus about suspicious movements, but Assad ignored enemy, per his statement.

Accused "neighboring country" participating in Syrian regime president's overthrow, hinting at Turkey. Multiple Iranian and regional sources previously reported Tehran's dissatisfaction with Assad, who reassured about army's situation control despite armed factions' advance in major cities and government forces' retreat.

Indicated Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi conveyed message to Damascus last week about country's inability providing more military support, explaining Iranians' surprise at Syrian army's weakness.

HTS and allied armed factions previously launched late last month lightning attack on Syrian government forces, before controlling Aleppo within days, then Hama and Homs, reaching Damascus. Capital collapsed December 7, while previous government announced next day regime's fall and former president's flight.

Iran lost with Assad's fall pivotal "resistance axis" element, after other ally Hezbollah emerged exhausted from Israel confrontation in Lebanon, where Syria's long, easily penetrable Lebanese border played strategic role supplying Tehran-backed Hezbollah with weapons.

Levant-Agencies

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