Ayatollah Khamenei defiant even as Iran evacuates thousands from Syria

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Iran has sought to put a brave face on the sudden overthrow of its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad, insisting it will continue to confront the US and Israel in the region even after evacuating thousands of its citizens during the rebel takeover of Damascus.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said on Wednesday in his first comments since the defeat of the regime in Syria that Iran’s “resistance front” of allies across the Middle East would “grow stronger under pressure” and “extend its reach over the entire region”.

But Tehran has also acknowledged evacuating its citizens from Syria in the face of the Islamist rebel advance. “Over 4,000 Iranian citizens have been flown back home from Syria aboard 10 Mahan Air flights in the past three days,” said government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, adding that the foreign ministry would ensure the evacuation of every last Iranian citizen.

It is unclear if the evacuees include Iranian pilgrims, diplomats or military personnel stationed in Syria. Esmaeil Baghaei of the foreign ministry said earlier that Iranian diplomats had all been safely withdrawn from Iran’s embassy in Damascus before the building was attacked.

Khamenei noted that Iranian forces were on an “advisory” mission in Syria and could not fight instead of the Syrian army, whose feebleness he blamed for the speedy downfall of the regime. “The troubles Syria is experiencing today is the result of its army showing weakness and losing its steadfastness and resilience.”

Analysts see Assad’s fall as a severe blow for the regional influence that Iran has nurtured over the past four decades through proxies and supporters eager to confront both Israel and the US. Syria was used by Iran as a supply route to aid and fund Hizbollah in Lebanon, Shia militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen.

Iran’s military forces and facilities, stationed in Syria for many years, were often targeted by Israeli air strikes during the past year. Israel has also assassinated Hizbollah leaders and targeted the group’s weapons stocks and infrastructure ahead of a ceasefire agreed last month.     

Khamenei cited the US and Israel striking targets inside Syria and Israel capturing parts of Syrian territory in recent days as proof of their involvement in Assad’s overthrow, saying Syria’s “terrorist or armed groups” were only operating on their behalf. 

“There is no doubt that the main command centre is in the US and the Zionist regime,” Khamenei said, citing “indisputable clues” showing US and Israeli involvement in Assad’s overthrow.

Russia, the other crucial international supporter of the Assad regime, has also been shocked by his defeat and has granted asylum to the deposed leader. For years Moscow was Assad’s main military supporter, attacking rebels with its warplanes until days before their final victory. The Kremlin has now withdrawn its forces from parts of Syria but has so far maintained its main air and naval bases on the Mediterranean.

On Wednesday, Iran rejected reports that $42mn of cash had been stolen from its embassy in Damascus after video footage emerged of assailants looting the building on Sunday. It said all contingency plans had been taken before evacuation. 

Khamenei warned against suggestions that Iran itself would be weakened by events in Syria and Lebanon. “Iran is powerful and will grow more powerful,” he said, warning that “using commentaries or analyses to dishearten the people is an offence”.

Tehran is cautiously examining how to deal with Syria’s new rulers, and two former Iranian lawmakers have raised concerns about Syria’s debts to Iran, which they said amounted to billions of dollars.

Khamenei, however, seems to be hoping the situation will eventually turn in favour of Tehran.

“Some celebrating in Damascus and seizing people’s houses, or the Zionist regime bombing targets in Syria . . . this will not last long,” he said. “The Syrian youth will rise up and turn around the situation.” He did nevertheless admit that this could take a long time.