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In the Syrian Regime's Hour of Need, Its Patron Iran Makes an Exit

(New York Times) Farnaz Fassihi - For four decades, Iran has expended much blood and money in support of Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, helping him survive a civil war. Iran operated military bases, weapons warehouses and missile factories in Syria, which it used as a pipeline for arming its allies across the region. Now, Iran is heading for the exits. On Friday, Iran started evacuating its military commanders and personnel, as well as some diplomatic staff, according to Iranian and regional officials. A collapse of Iran's partnership with Syria would reshape the balance of power in the Middle East. The "axis of resistance" would be weakened. Israel and its Arab allies would be strengthened. "Everything that Iran sent to the region went through Syria. It is now extremely difficult to keep these channels open," said Hassan Shemshadi, an expert on Iran's proxy militant groups, in an interview from Tehran. Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a former vice president, wrote on X: "Resistance in the region would be left without support. Israel would become the dominant force."
2024-12-08 00:00:00
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