Brig. Gen. Behrouz Esbati delivered a frank speech in Tehran, highlighting the significant losses suffered by Iran as the Assad regime succumbed to rebel advances. Esbati's remarks stand in stark contrast to the more optimistic assessments provided by other Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who had previously downplayed the consequences of the upheaval.
The audio recording from his speech, released by Abdi Media, reveals Esbati's open acknowledgment of defeat, stating, “I don’t consider losing Syria something to be proud of. We were defeated ... and it’s been very difficult.” He elaborated on the challenges faced as Assad's leadership became increasingly strained, especially after the Syrian President denied critical requests for support from Iranian-backed militias aimed at targeting Israel following the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023.
Esbati's statements further accuse Russia of failing to provide adequate support, claiming the Kremlin misled Iran regarding military operations in Syria. He indicated that Russian jets purportedly bombarding Syrian rebels had not been engaged, while also alleging that Russian forces enabled Israeli attacks by deactivating radars.
As Iran reassesses its military strategy in Syria amidst these developments, the strategic landscape of the region continues to shift, raising questions about future alliances and military operations.
The audio recording from his speech, released by Abdi Media, reveals Esbati's open acknowledgment of defeat, stating, “I don’t consider losing Syria something to be proud of. We were defeated ... and it’s been very difficult.” He elaborated on the challenges faced as Assad's leadership became increasingly strained, especially after the Syrian President denied critical requests for support from Iranian-backed militias aimed at targeting Israel following the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023.
Esbati's statements further accuse Russia of failing to provide adequate support, claiming the Kremlin misled Iran regarding military operations in Syria. He indicated that Russian jets purportedly bombarding Syrian rebels had not been engaged, while also alleging that Russian forces enabled Israeli attacks by deactivating radars.
As Iran reassesses its military strategy in Syria amidst these developments, the strategic landscape of the region continues to shift, raising questions about future alliances and military operations.
