Iran's most senior military figure concerning Syria has publicly acknowledged a major defeat following the recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, sharply contradicting the optimistic statements made by Iranian leadership. Brig. Gen. Behrouz Esbati's candid remarks were delivered during a recent mosque speech in Tehran and have sparked a wave of media coverage highlighting the struggles Iran faces in maintaining its foothold in the region.
The general's audio speech, which surfaced on Monday, starkly contrasts with official claims by President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. For weeks, Tehran's leaders have downplayed the repercussions of Assad's ouster, suggesting that Iran would adapt to any political changes deemed necessary by the Syrian populace.
"I don’t consider losing Syria something to be proud of," General Esbati lamented. He recounted how Iran had suffered considerably from the regime's collapse, stating, “We were defeated, and defeated very badly; we took a very big blow.”
Esbati went on to detail the faltering relations between Tehran and Damascus leading up to Assad's exit, noting that multiple requests had been denied for Iranian-backed forces to launch operations against Israel from Syrian territory following the recent Hamas-led offensive.
Underscoring the inadequacies in military collaboration, he accused Russia of deception, claiming that the Kremlin informed Iranian officials that their jets were actively engaging rebel targets when they were not. He further noted that Russian operatives had allowed Israeli airstrikes against Iranian assets in Syria by disabling radar systems.
As the geopolitical landscape in Syria continues to shift following Assad's removal, Iran faces challenges in solidifying its influence in an increasingly unstable environment, signaling potential struggles ahead in its coordinated efforts with local forces and external allies.
