In a rare admission of vulnerability, Brig. Gen. Behrouz Esbati has highlighted Iran's significant losses following the recent downfall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. During a speech in Tehran, he revealed that Iranian leadership had denied the reality of their strategic losses, providing a stark contrast to the rhetoric of Iran’s other top officials who have downplayed the situation.
Esbati candidly described the defeat as a "very big blow," stating, “I don’t consider losing Syria something to be proud of.” His remarks come after months of strained relations with Assad. The general disclosed that various requests from Iran for Syrian-backed militias to unite against Israel were repeatedly denied by the Syrian leadership, especially in the wake of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
Furthermore, Esbati pointed fingers at Russia, traditionally viewed as a close ally, alleging that the Kremlin misled Iran about the effectiveness of its military actions in Syria. He claimed that Russia had failed to assist adequately against Israeli strikes, suggesting that they had intentionally turned off radar systems during critical moments, facilitating attacks on Iranian assets.
This admission by one of Iran’s senior military figures raises questions about the future of Iran’s involvement in Syria and its broader geopolitical strategy in the region. The conflicting narratives from Iranian officials may point towards a growing discontent and uncertainty within the Iranian military establishment regarding their footing in Syria.
Esbati candidly described the defeat as a "very big blow," stating, “I don’t consider losing Syria something to be proud of.” His remarks come after months of strained relations with Assad. The general disclosed that various requests from Iran for Syrian-backed militias to unite against Israel were repeatedly denied by the Syrian leadership, especially in the wake of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
Furthermore, Esbati pointed fingers at Russia, traditionally viewed as a close ally, alleging that the Kremlin misled Iran about the effectiveness of its military actions in Syria. He claimed that Russia had failed to assist adequately against Israeli strikes, suggesting that they had intentionally turned off radar systems during critical moments, facilitating attacks on Iranian assets.
This admission by one of Iran’s senior military figures raises questions about the future of Iran’s involvement in Syria and its broader geopolitical strategy in the region. The conflicting narratives from Iranian officials may point towards a growing discontent and uncertainty within the Iranian military establishment regarding their footing in Syria.
