Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has scaled back the deployment of its senior officers in Syria due to a series of deadly Israeli attacks and will rely more on allied Shiite militias to preserve its rule there, five sources familiar with the matter said.
The Guard has experienced one of the most violent periods in Syria since arriving a decade ago to help President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian war. Since December, Israeli attacks have killed more than half a dozen of its members, including one of the Guard’s top intelligence generals.
As Tehran’s hardliners call for retaliation, Iran’s decision to recall senior officials is motivated in part by its aversion to being sucked directly into a conflict erupting in the Middle East, three sources told Reuters.
Although sources say Iran has no plans to leave Syria – an important part of Tehran’s sphere of influence – the reshuffle highlights how the fallout from the war sparked by the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October. region.
Iran, a supporter of Hamas, has sought to stay out of the conflict, including by supporting groups that have entered the fray in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria – the so-called “Axis of Resistance”, hostile to the interests of Israel and the United States .
One of the sources – a senior regional security official briefed by Tehran – said senior Iranian commanders had left Syria along with dozens of mid-level officials, describing it as a reduction in presence.
The source did not reveal how many Iranians had left the country and Reuters was unable to independently determine this.
The news agency was unable to reach the Guard for comment, and Syria’s Information Ministry did not respond to emailed questions about this story.
Iran sent thousands of fighters to Syria during the Syrian war. Although members of the Guard, who officially served as advisors, were included, the majority were Shia militiamen from across the region.
Three of the sources said the Guard would manage Syrian operations remotely, with help from ally Hezbollah. The Lebanese group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Another source, a regional official close to Iran, said those still in Syria had left their offices and remained in hiding. “The Iranians will not abandon Syria, but they have reduced their presence and movements as much as possible.”
The sources said the changes have so far had no impact on operations. The retrenchment “will help Tehran avoid getting involved in the war between Israel and Gaza,” one of the sources, an Iranian, said.
Since the start of the Gaza war, Israel has stepped up a years-long campaign of airstrikes aimed at pushing back Iran’s presence in Syria, attacking both the Guard and Hezbollah – which, in turn, has engaged in a firefight with Israel through the Lebanese-Israeli army. border from 8 October.
Israel rarely comments on its attacks in Syria and has not claimed responsibility for recent attacks in the country. In response to questions from Reuters, the Israeli military said it does not comment on foreign media reports.
Source: Terra
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