Iran Scales Back Military Presence in Syria after Series of Assassinations Targeting Senior Iranian Officials

According to a report by AFP news agency, Iran has recently scaled back its military presence in Syria following a series of attacks that have been attributed to Israel. The source close to Hezbollah revealed that Iran has been supporting the Syrian government forces for over a decade. However, the withdrawal from southern Syria, including the provinces of Quneitra and Daraa near the Golan Heights, was prompted by a string of assassinations targeting senior Iranian military officials.

The decision to reduce military presence began after a strike on Damascus on January 21 that resulted in the death of five advisors to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the commander of the Al-Quds Force. Iran blames Israel for this operation. Subsequent strikes on Iranian targets in Syria, such as the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, have further influenced Iran’s military positioning. In response to the consulate attack, Iran launched an unprecedented strike on Israel on April 14.

According to reports from Lebanese and Iraqi fighters who have taken their place in southern Syria and Damascus, up to 3,000 Iranian troops remain in Syria. Despite withdrawing its troops from certain areas, Iran still maintains a presence in other parts of Syria through its proxies.