Iran is reportedly scaling back its military presence in Syria following a series of attacks attributed to Israel. The AFP news agency reported on Wednesday, April 24, that Iran’s withdrawal is in response to a string of assassinations of senior Iranian military officials. For over a decade, Iran has been a supporter of Syrian government forces, but recent events have prompted a shift in their presence in the country.
According to a source close to Hezbollah, Iran has pulled its military forces out of southern Syria, including the provinces of Quneitra and Daraa bordering the Golan Heights. However, Iranians are said to remain in other parts of Syria. The retraction of Iranian troops began after a strike on Damascus on January 21, resulting in the deaths of five advisers from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including a commander of the Al-Quds Force. Iran blames Israel for this operation.
Subsequent strikes targeting Iranian assets in Syria, such as an attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 that claimed the lives of six Iranians, have further prompted Iran to reduce its military presence in the country. In response, Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on April 14.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that Iranian troops have withdrawn from southern Syria and Damascus, with their roles now being assumed by Iranian-backed fighters from Lebanon and Iraq. Despite this withdrawal, up to 3,000 Iranian troops remain in Syria, supported by thousands of militants from Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan. This shift signifies a notable change in Iran’s military strategy in Syria amidst escalating tensions with Israel.