Iranian General's Stark Admission: Assad Regime's Collapse Marks a Major Defeat for Iran

A senior Iranian general, Behrouz Esbati, has admitted that the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria represented a severe defeat for Iran. His remarks, delivered in a Tehran mosque, were recorded and have sparked widespread controversy internationally.

The New York Times reported that this admission contradicts the narrative often presented by Iranian leaders, who have downplayed the extent of their strategic loss in Syria.

In his speech, Esbati revealed that he was the last Iranian official to leave Syria before the regime's downfall, noting that tensions between Iran and the Assad administration had escalated significantly in recent months.

The general also disclosed that Assad had repeatedly rejected requests from Iranian-backed militias to open a front against Israel, particularly following the heightened regional tensions in October.

Esbati attributed the regime’s collapse to widespread corruption, economic crises, and Assad's refusal to embrace reforms. He further accused Russia of misleading Iran about the situation in Syria, facilitating Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.

Despite these challenges, Esbati stressed that Iran would seek ways to bolster its presence in Syria, leveraging the networks it has built over the years. This includes forming resistance cells and utilizing social media for strategic operations.

However, experts remain skeptical about Iran's ability to maintain its strategies in the region given the rapidly changing circumstances in Syria.