Barran Press - Reports Unit:
In less than two weeks, Syrian opposition forces managed to reach the capital, Damascus, and topple President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which crumbled entirely before the opposition's advances.
Many attributed the rapid fall of Assad's regime to Iran's abandonment of its key ally in the so-called "Axis of Resistance," as Tehran provided only limited support through Revolutionary Guard units and air support from Russia.
While Syrian cities fell one by one to opposition forces, Iran evacuated members of the Revolutionary Guard and diplomats from Syria, including their families, after realizing that military action could not help Assad stay in power, according to a "New York Times" report.
Reports indicated that some Iranians left Syria on flights to Tehran, while others departed overland to Iraq and Lebanon, and to the Syrian port of Tartus.
Officials and informed sources told the "Wall Street Journal" that "Iran secretly informed Arab diplomats that sending troops to Syria was difficult."
Journalist and Middle East expert Steven Nabil considered the news of Iran's evacuation from Syria a "message to all its proxies in Iraq and other countries that Iran will eventually abandon them for its own interests, security, and goals."
Testimonies
After the Syrian opposition liberated the city of Homs, adjacent to the capital Damascus, activists on social media shared a video of a Bashar al-Assad soldier lamenting their abandonment by the leadership and the betrayal by Russia and Iran.
The soldier, seen wearing his military uniform and carrying his weapon, blamed the regime and allies for Homs' fall to the opposition, saying, "Brothers, we left Homs now. I am responsible for my words. Bashar sold us out. Iran sold us out. Russia sold us out."
Activists also shared a video of the "Sayyida Ruqayya" shrine in Damascus, captured by a Revolutionary Guard soldier before leaving Syrian territory. Speaking in Farsi, he talked about the withdrawal of Iranian forces supporting Bashar al-Assad from Syria.
Crying during the video, he said, "All Iranians left Syria. Not a single Iranian remains. The Syrian regime was sold in a deal, and this is the last video I film from the shrine."
Historical Context
Yemeni writer Jamal An'am noted that "Iran's foreign policy in contemporary history is pragmatism par excellence," explaining that Iran's actions are "driven by its national interests, alliances, and relationships, governed by what serves those interests above all."
In a lengthy article on Facebook, reviewed by "Barran Press," An'am quoted French sociologist Olivier Roy's opinion from his book "Globalized Islam," first edition 2003, that Iran did not obstruct the spread of US forces in Iraq or the Gulf during the Gulf War (1990-91).
He pointed out that Iran also ceased supporting its traditional Shiite allies in Iraq in 1991, Bahraini Shiites in 1996, and some Afghan factions in 1998.
He stated that Iran supported the Armenians in the Caucasus against the Shiite Republic of Azerbaijan and cooperated with Russia to end the civil war in Tajikistan in June 1997. During the military campaign in Afghanistan in 2001, Iran sided with Russia, India, and the United States, supporting the Afghan Northern Alliance against the Taliban.
An'am noted that Iran did not directly intervene in the Palestinian intifada that began in 2000, except for its political support for Hezbollah and the Palestinians, and strongly condemned the 9/11 attacks through Supreme Leader Khamenei and reformist President Khatami.
The writer explained how "Iran sought to exploit the failure of the Oslo Accords to become a force in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East simultaneously," adopting a foreign policy based on realism and pragmatism.
Jamal An'am concluded his article by saying, "We are in a clear conflict where we know our enemies well, no matter what covers and garments they wear." He added, "No matter what flags, claims, and slogans they raise... between us and them is a homeland, and they will always be the enemy."
Does the Houthi Understand?
Yemeni Ambassador to the UK, Yassin Saeed Noman, spoke about the Iranian diplomatic efforts "to save their military and political investment in Syria," which he described as "the linking ring in all the Iranian project's loops they call the 'Axis of Resistance.'"
In an article published by "Barran Press," Ambassador Noman explained that Iranian efforts were limited "to routine communications and meetings with various parties," which, in his view, indicates "that all the strategic relationships promoted were to cover the true function of this project, which serves Iranian interests."
Based on this, he said, "When any party in the project is unable to perform its mission, it is removed and abandoned."
Applying this approach to the Yemeni issue, the Yemeni diplomat asked, "Has the message reached the Houthi? Is it time for him to think about sparing Yemen more rounds of bloodshed and destruction, and resort to the logic that stability in any country is not based on foreign-backed dominance, as foreign calculations are measured by their interests above all else."
In a recent article published in the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi writer Abdulrahman al-Rashed emphasized that Iranian support for Syria should not be viewed as an act of charity but as a strategic move. He stated, “We must recognize that Iranian backing was not akin to selling a carpet to the Syrians. The support was primarily driven by Iran's strategic interests and not humanitarian concerns.”
Al-Rashed noted that while Iran fights in Syria, it is also defending its presence and regional allies. He pointed out that the significance of Iran’s influence in Syria led former U.S. President Obama to agree to negotiations with Tehran, resulting in Iran receiving substantial financial compensations, including $120 billion related to the Shah's former deposits. He argued that Iran’s victory in Syria has made it a more significant player in the region.
He further contended that the 2011 uprising and subsequent war were the costs of Syria's activities against the U.S. occupation in Iraq (2003-2010), where resistance was also an Iranian project. Al-Rashed asserted that Syria continues to pay the price for its alliance with Tehran, including facing the repercussions of the Caesar Act sanctions.
He argued that Syria has no debt to Tehran but rather mutual interests, stating that Damascus has borne significant costs and that it is time for reconciliations, ending conflicts, and distancing itself from harmful alliances. He called the recent resurgence of armed factions a cry for reconciliation, urging for the resolution of pressing issues, including the plight of millions of displaced persons and the demands of Turkey regarding armed opposition.
Middle East Storm
Dr. Luqaa Maki, a researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, added that Iraq serves as Iran's last line of defense, albeit a fragile one. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “If Iranians want to survive the storm in the Middle East, they should secure their borders and abandon expansionist dreams.” He noted that this is a challenging request, as arrogance and power obsession led Iran into trouble in Syria and could do the same in Iraq if not addressed.
Abandoning Hezbollah
This Iranian stance comes weeks after a similar position regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon, often seen as Iran's most significant regional ally. Iran has reportedly left Hezbollah to face a devastating Israeli assault on its own, which has severely weakened its leadership and capabilities.
On September 30, 2024, the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied any control over Hezbollah, claiming it does not have “proxy forces” and stating that the “resistance” in the region represents its own people. Observers interpreted this as a justification for abandoning allies in times of crisis after entangling them in conflicts and massacres against their populations.
In response to Iran’s position, Adwan Al-Ahmari, editor-in-chief of Independent Arabia, remarked that Iran claims Hezbollah cannot win against Israel and that the Houthis do not heed their advice. He predicted that Tehran would distance itself from various “resistance” factions one by one, eventually reconciling with the U.S. and focusing on its economy after using these groups for sectarian wars and destructive aims for 40 years.
As the Assad regime collapses and Hezbollah’s influence wanes in Lebanon, warnings are rising regarding the potential fate of other factions within the Iranian axis, including armed groups in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen.
In less than two weeks, Syrian opposition forces managed to reach the capital, Damascus, and topple President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which crumbled entirely before the opposition's advances.
Many attributed the rapid fall of Assad's regime to Iran's abandonment of its key ally in the so-called "Axis of Resistance," as Tehran provided only limited support through Revolutionary Guard units and air support from Russia.
While Syrian cities fell one by one to opposition forces, Iran evacuated members of the Revolutionary Guard and diplomats from Syria, including their families, after realizing that military action could not help Assad stay in power, according to a "New York Times" report.
Reports indicated that some Iranians left Syria on flights to Tehran, while others departed overland to Iraq and Lebanon, and to the Syrian port of Tartus.
Officials and informed sources told the "Wall Street Journal" that "Iran secretly informed Arab diplomats that sending troops to Syria was difficult."
Journalist and Middle East expert Steven Nabil considered the news of Iran's evacuation from Syria a "message to all its proxies in Iraq and other countries that Iran will eventually abandon them for its own interests, security, and goals."
Testimonies
After the Syrian opposition liberated the city of Homs, adjacent to the capital Damascus, activists on social media shared a video of a Bashar al-Assad soldier lamenting their abandonment by the leadership and the betrayal by Russia and Iran.
The soldier, seen wearing his military uniform and carrying his weapon, blamed the regime and allies for Homs' fall to the opposition, saying, "Brothers, we left Homs now. I am responsible for my words. Bashar sold us out. Iran sold us out. Russia sold us out."
Activists also shared a video of the "Sayyida Ruqayya" shrine in Damascus, captured by a Revolutionary Guard soldier before leaving Syrian territory. Speaking in Farsi, he talked about the withdrawal of Iranian forces supporting Bashar al-Assad from Syria.
Crying during the video, he said, "All Iranians left Syria. Not a single Iranian remains. The Syrian regime was sold in a deal, and this is the last video I film from the shrine."
Historical Context
Yemeni writer Jamal An'am noted that "Iran's foreign policy in contemporary history is pragmatism par excellence," explaining that Iran's actions are "driven by its national interests, alliances, and relationships, governed by what serves those interests above all."
In a lengthy article on Facebook, reviewed by "Barran Press," An'am quoted French sociologist Olivier Roy's opinion from his book "Globalized Islam," first edition 2003, that Iran did not obstruct the spread of US forces in Iraq or the Gulf during the Gulf War (1990-91).
He pointed out that Iran also ceased supporting its traditional Shiite allies in Iraq in 1991, Bahraini Shiites in 1996, and some Afghan factions in 1998.
He stated that Iran supported the Armenians in the Caucasus against the Shiite Republic of Azerbaijan and cooperated with Russia to end the civil war in Tajikistan in June 1997. During the military campaign in Afghanistan in 2001, Iran sided with Russia, India, and the United States, supporting the Afghan Northern Alliance against the Taliban.
An'am noted that Iran did not directly intervene in the Palestinian intifada that began in 2000, except for its political support for Hezbollah and the Palestinians, and strongly condemned the 9/11 attacks through Supreme Leader Khamenei and reformist President Khatami.
The writer explained how "Iran sought to exploit the failure of the Oslo Accords to become a force in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East simultaneously," adopting a foreign policy based on realism and pragmatism.
Jamal An'am concluded his article by saying, "We are in a clear conflict where we know our enemies well, no matter what covers and garments they wear." He added, "No matter what flags, claims, and slogans they raise... between us and them is a homeland, and they will always be the enemy."
Does the Houthi Understand?
Yemeni Ambassador to the UK, Yassin Saeed Noman, spoke about the Iranian diplomatic efforts "to save their military and political investment in Syria," which he described as "the linking ring in all the Iranian project's loops they call the 'Axis of Resistance.'"
In an article published by "Barran Press," Ambassador Noman explained that Iranian efforts were limited "to routine communications and meetings with various parties," which, in his view, indicates "that all the strategic relationships promoted were to cover the true function of this project, which serves Iranian interests."
Based on this, he said, "When any party in the project is unable to perform its mission, it is removed and abandoned."
Applying this approach to the Yemeni issue, the Yemeni diplomat asked, "Has the message reached the Houthi? Is it time for him to think about sparing Yemen more rounds of bloodshed and destruction, and resort to the logic that stability in any country is not based on foreign-backed dominance, as foreign calculations are measured by their interests above all else."
In a recent article published in the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi writer Abdulrahman al-Rashed emphasized that Iranian support for Syria should not be viewed as an act of charity but as a strategic move. He stated, “We must recognize that Iranian backing was not akin to selling a carpet to the Syrians. The support was primarily driven by Iran's strategic interests and not humanitarian concerns.”
Al-Rashed noted that while Iran fights in Syria, it is also defending its presence and regional allies. He pointed out that the significance of Iran’s influence in Syria led former U.S. President Obama to agree to negotiations with Tehran, resulting in Iran receiving substantial financial compensations, including $120 billion related to the Shah's former deposits. He argued that Iran’s victory in Syria has made it a more significant player in the region.
He further contended that the 2011 uprising and subsequent war were the costs of Syria's activities against the U.S. occupation in Iraq (2003-2010), where resistance was also an Iranian project. Al-Rashed asserted that Syria continues to pay the price for its alliance with Tehran, including facing the repercussions of the Caesar Act sanctions.
He argued that Syria has no debt to Tehran but rather mutual interests, stating that Damascus has borne significant costs and that it is time for reconciliations, ending conflicts, and distancing itself from harmful alliances. He called the recent resurgence of armed factions a cry for reconciliation, urging for the resolution of pressing issues, including the plight of millions of displaced persons and the demands of Turkey regarding armed opposition.
Middle East Storm
Dr. Luqaa Maki, a researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, added that Iraq serves as Iran's last line of defense, albeit a fragile one. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “If Iranians want to survive the storm in the Middle East, they should secure their borders and abandon expansionist dreams.” He noted that this is a challenging request, as arrogance and power obsession led Iran into trouble in Syria and could do the same in Iraq if not addressed.
Abandoning Hezbollah
This Iranian stance comes weeks after a similar position regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon, often seen as Iran's most significant regional ally. Iran has reportedly left Hezbollah to face a devastating Israeli assault on its own, which has severely weakened its leadership and capabilities.
On September 30, 2024, the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied any control over Hezbollah, claiming it does not have “proxy forces” and stating that the “resistance” in the region represents its own people. Observers interpreted this as a justification for abandoning allies in times of crisis after entangling them in conflicts and massacres against their populations.
In response to Iran’s position, Adwan Al-Ahmari, editor-in-chief of Independent Arabia, remarked that Iran claims Hezbollah cannot win against Israel and that the Houthis do not heed their advice. He predicted that Tehran would distance itself from various “resistance” factions one by one, eventually reconciling with the U.S. and focusing on its economy after using these groups for sectarian wars and destructive aims for 40 years.
As the Assad regime collapses and Hezbollah’s influence wanes in Lebanon, warnings are rising regarding the potential fate of other factions within the Iranian axis, including armed groups in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen.