Mon Dec 09 14:54:00 UTC 2024: ## Assad’s Fall Shakes Iran’s Axis of Resistance

**BEIRUT** – The sudden collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has dealt a major blow to Iran’s regional influence, analysts say. An Islamist-led rebel alliance launched a swift offensive on November 27th, seizing Damascus just as a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel took effect. This victory marks a significant turning point in the 14-year Syrian civil war and severely impacts Iran’s “axis of resistance.”

Assad’s government served as a crucial conduit for weapons and supplies between Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, which suffered heavy losses in recent conflicts. The fall of Damascus represents a strategic setback for Iran, undermining its ability to support Hezbollah and other regional allies such as Hamas and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Iranian embassy in Damascus was reportedly ransacked following the rebel victory.

The loss of Syria follows a string of setbacks for Iran, including the recent assassinations of key figures in Hamas and Hezbollah by Israel, which Tehran blames for numerous attacks against its interests. Hundreds of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps members have also been killed in Syria over the past decade.

Some Iranian officials are now publicly criticizing Assad, suggesting he failed to heed Tehran’s advice. While Iran’s foreign ministry stated its policy towards a new Syrian government would depend on regional developments, it also expressed hope for continued friendly relations. This marks a notable shift in tone, as Iran previously labeled all opposition in Syria as terrorists. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that the “resistance” against Israel would continue despite the loss of Syria as a key base.

Tehran officially portrays the rebel victory as an American-Israeli plot to destabilize the Middle East. The future of Iran’s regional strategy and its ability to maintain its network of proxies remains uncertain in the wake of this dramatic development.

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