In a surprising turn of events in the Middle East, Iranian forces in Syria have partially withdrawn their troops, according to US officials cited by Fatshimetrie. According to a report published in the New York Times on Saturday, the Iranian government has reportedly begun withdrawing its forces and commanders on the ground since Friday evening.
These internal revelations by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards clarify “Iran’s acceptance of reality and cessation of resistance due to the strange and unreasonable situation,” the newspaper said. While earlier this week, Iran officially promised to support the regime of Bashar al-Assad, notably through its Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the tone of the speeches abruptly changed as the militants approached the Syrian capital, Damascus. Araqchi declared that Assad’s fate was now in the hands of God.
Official discourse in Iran has also shifted from describing Syrian opposition groups as “terrorists” to “armed groups,” marking a shift in Tehran’s stance on the situation and a shift toward a post-Assad era.
The New York Times also reported that “three senior Iranian officials told the newspaper that the so-called Tahrir al-Sham Front sent a special diplomatic envoy to Tehran, who presented the armed group’s promises to the Iranian government to ‘preserve the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab in Syria and not touch the shrines.’” The discussions between the two sides and assurances from Tahrir al-Sham led to Iran’s decision to withdraw its remaining combat forces from Syria.
This partial withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syria marks a significant shift in the balance of power in the Middle East. It suggests a possible redefinition of alliances and interests of regional actors in the Syrian conflict, opening the way to new political and military dynamics in the region. It remains to be seen what the repercussions of this decision will be on the ground and what the next steps will be for the forces present in Syria.