Unlock the Editor’s Digest free of charge
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite tales on this weekly publication.
Iran has sought to place a courageous face on the sudden overthrow of its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad, insisting it should proceed to confront the US and Israel within the area even after evacuating 1000’s of its residents in the course of the insurgent takeover of Damascus.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme chief, stated on Wednesday in his first feedback for the reason that defeat of the regime in Syria that Iran’s “resistance entrance” of allies throughout the Center East would “develop stronger below strain” and “lengthen its attain over all the area”.
However Tehran has additionally acknowledged evacuating its residents from Syria within the face of the Islamist insurgent advance. “Over 4,000 Iranian residents have been flown again house from Syria aboard 10 Mahan Air flights up to now three days,” stated authorities spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, including that the overseas ministry would make sure the evacuation of each final Iranian citizen.
It’s unclear if the evacuees embrace Iranian pilgrims, diplomats or army personnel stationed in Syria. Esmaeil Baghaei of the overseas ministry stated earlier that Iranian diplomats had all been safely withdrawn from Iran’s embassy in Damascus earlier than the constructing was attacked.
Khamenei famous that Iranian forces had been on an “advisory” mission in Syria and couldn’t combat as an alternative of the Syrian military, whose feebleness he blamed for the speedy downfall of the regime. “The troubles Syria is experiencing in the present day is the results of its military exhibiting weak spot and shedding its steadfastness and resilience.”
Analysts see Assad’s fall as a extreme blow for the regional affect that Iran has nurtured over the previous 4 many years by proxies and supporters desperate to confront each Israel and the US. Syria was utilized by Iran as a provide route to assist and fund Hizbollah in Lebanon, Shia militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen.
Iran’s army forces and amenities, stationed in Syria for a few years, had been usually focused by Israeli air strikes in the course of the previous yr. Israel has additionally assassinated Hizbollah leaders and focused the group’s weapons shares and infrastructure forward of a ceasefire agreed final month.
Khamenei cited the US and Israel putting targets inside Syria and Israel capturing elements of Syrian territory in latest days as proof of their involvement in Assad’s overthrow, saying Syria’s “terrorist or armed teams” had been solely working on their behalf.
“There isn’t any doubt that the principle command centre is within the US and the Zionist regime,” Khamenei stated, citing “indeniable clues” exhibiting US and Israeli involvement in Assad’s overthrow.
Russia, the opposite essential worldwide supporter of the Assad regime, has additionally been shocked by his defeat and has granted asylum to the deposed chief. For years Moscow was Assad’s major army supporter, attacking rebels with its warplanes till days earlier than their ultimate victory. The Kremlin has now withdrawn its forces from elements of Syria however has up to now maintained its major air and naval bases on the Mediterranean.
On Wednesday, Iran rejected stories that $42mn of money had been stolen from its embassy in Damascus after video footage emerged of assailants looting the constructing on Sunday. It stated all contingency plans had been taken earlier than evacuation.
Khamenei warned towards solutions that Iran itself can be weakened by occasions in Syria and Lebanon. “Iran is highly effective and can develop extra highly effective,” he stated, warning that “utilizing commentaries or analyses to dishearten the folks is an offence”.
Tehran is cautiously analyzing easy methods to cope with Syria’s new rulers, and two former lawmakers have raised considerations in regards to the nation’s money owed to Iran, which they stated amounted to billions of {dollars}
Khamenei, nonetheless, appears to be hoping the state of affairs will ultimately flip in favour of Tehran.
“Some celebrating in Damascus and seizing folks’s homes, or the Zionist regime bombing targets in Syria . . . this won’t final lengthy,” he stated. “The Syrian youth will stand up and switch across the state of affairs.” He did nonetheless admit that this might take a very long time.
