In a significant growth, Iran has reportedly begun evacuating it’s military commanders and personnel from Syria, signaling a potential shift in Tehran’s support for President Bashar al-Assad amid escalating pressure from anti-government forces.
according to a report by The New York Times, citing Iranian and regional sources, the evacuations, which began on Friday, include senior leaders of the Quds Force, the elite external wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The exodus also encompasses IRGC members, iranian diplomatic staff, their families, and civilians, according to Iranian officials and regional sources.
“iran begins evacuating its commanders and soldiers from Syria. photo/X/@FazelHawramy”
The evacuations reportedly extend to the Iranian Embassy in Damascus and various Revolutionary Guard bases.Some embassy staff have already departed, sources confirmed to The New York times.
This development coincides with a series of strategic gains by Syrian opposition fighters. On Saturday, they claimed to have captured the southern city of Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against Assad.This marks the fourth city to fall to anti-government forces within a week.
“The military agreed to withdraw from Daraa under a deal that gave military officials safe passage to Damascus,about 100 kilometers (60 miles) to the north,” sources reported.
adding to the pressure on Assad’s regime, syrian anti-government forces also claimed late Friday to have reached the outskirts of Homs, a strategically vital city that links the capital to the Mediterranean coast. Control of Homs would sever Damascus from Assad’s Alawite strongholds along the coast and from Russian military bases in the region.
The situation in Syria remains highly volatile, with the balance of power shifting rapidly. the reported Iranian evacuations suggest a potential reassessment of Tehran’s commitment to Assad’s regime in the face of mounting challenges.
.
