A leaked audio recording attributed to a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard general has shed light on the final days of Bashar al-Assad's regime, suggesting that its downfall was due to "Russian betrayal" and internal corruption.

In the recording, General Behruz Ittabati, who previously served as the cultural attaché at the Iranian embassy in Damascus, discusses the challenges faced by the Revolutionary Guard in Syria during a gathering at a Basij-controlled mosque. He expresses deep concern about the situation, stating, "We suffered significant losses in Syria," and identifies internal corruption and economic collapse as key factors contributing to the regime's failure.

Ittabati further claims, "The people rose up to overthrow a corrupt regime," and accuses Russia of playing a role in Syria's downfall under Assad. He alleges that "the Russians disabled all radar systems, allowing Israeli forces to target our intelligence headquarters."

He also criticized Russian military actions, stating that they targeted deserts instead of focusing on sites held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Reflecting on his experience, Ittabati described his departure from Syria as one of the most difficult moments of his life as a guard.

The general also addressed Iran's confrontations with the U.S., stating, "Our conventional missiles, aside from strategic ones, are not very effective against U.S. positions. Even if we strike them, what will happen? The U.S. will retaliate against dozens of our sites and may also attack Popular Mobilization Forces."

Moreover, he dismissed the possibility of a retaliatory strike against Israel following its attack on sensitive military sites on October 26, stating that the current situation does not allow for the execution of a planned operation.