In a striking speech last week, Brig. Gen. Behrouz Esbati, Iran's top general in Syria, openly acknowledged a “major defeat” regarding the recent downfall of Bashar al-Assad, a stark contrast to the official statements of Iranian leaders who have been minimizing the consequences of this loss. Instead of the usual rhetoric celebrating resilience, Esbati frankly admitted that Iran suffered a significant blow after the rebels successfully ousted al-Assad from power last month.
This candid acknowledgment came to light following an audio recording released by Abdi Media, a Geneva-based outlet focusing on Iranian affairs. "I don’t consider losing Syria something to be proud of," Esbati stated. His remarks reveal a deep concern within Iranian ranks about their strategic foothold in Syria, emphasizing the difficulties faced in this recent upheaval.
The general further elaborated on the strained relations between Iran and Assad prior to his ousting. According to him, the Syrian leader consistently refused Iranian requests for his militias to initiate military operations against Israel, particularly following the earlier Hamas-led attacks. Esbati mentioned that comprehensive military strategies had been proposed to Assad for utilizing Iranian capabilities against Israeli targets, but those proposals were dismissed.
Moreover, Esbati accused Russia, traditionally viewed as Iran's ally, of misleading Tehran by falsely claiming that Russian airstrikes were targeting the rebels when, in actuality, those claims were unfounded. He alleged that, during Israeli strikes on Iranian sites within Syria, Russia had “turned off radars,” thus enabling these attacks and demonstrating a betrayal of trust in their alliance.
The implications of Esbati's admissions signify a pivotal turning point for Iran’s influence and ambitions in the region, raising questions about its future operations in Syria and the reliability of its strategic partnerships.
This candid acknowledgment came to light following an audio recording released by Abdi Media, a Geneva-based outlet focusing on Iranian affairs. "I don’t consider losing Syria something to be proud of," Esbati stated. His remarks reveal a deep concern within Iranian ranks about their strategic foothold in Syria, emphasizing the difficulties faced in this recent upheaval.
The general further elaborated on the strained relations between Iran and Assad prior to his ousting. According to him, the Syrian leader consistently refused Iranian requests for his militias to initiate military operations against Israel, particularly following the earlier Hamas-led attacks. Esbati mentioned that comprehensive military strategies had been proposed to Assad for utilizing Iranian capabilities against Israeli targets, but those proposals were dismissed.
Moreover, Esbati accused Russia, traditionally viewed as Iran's ally, of misleading Tehran by falsely claiming that Russian airstrikes were targeting the rebels when, in actuality, those claims were unfounded. He alleged that, during Israeli strikes on Iranian sites within Syria, Russia had “turned off radars,” thus enabling these attacks and demonstrating a betrayal of trust in their alliance.
The implications of Esbati's admissions signify a pivotal turning point for Iran’s influence and ambitions in the region, raising questions about its future operations in Syria and the reliability of its strategic partnerships.
