Iran Withdraws from Syria: Embassy Emptied, Commanders Recalled

Damascus (Iran):  The stronghold of rebels in Syria has alarmed Iran, prompting the country to begin evacuating its military officials and embassy personnel from Syria. For nearly 13 years, Iran has been providing extensive support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, this unexpected move has raised concerns for President Assad.

According to The New York Times, on Friday, Iran started withdrawing its military officers, troops, and embassy staff from Syria, including senior commanders of its elite Quds Force, the external arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These forces have been instrumental in helping Assad maintain his grip on power. Notably, Iran has also used Syria as a critical route for supplying weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Officials reported that Iranians began leaving Syria on Friday morning. Both Iranian and regional authorities confirmed that orders had been issued to vacate the Iranian embassy in Damascus as well as IRGC bases. Some embassy staff immediately departed for Iran, with transportation arranged via both air and land. Those evacuated are being sent by cars to Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria’s Latakia port.

This development marks a significant shift in Iran’s long-standing involvement in Syria and could have profound implications for the Assad regime and regional geopolitics.