Iran has reportedly scaled back its military presence in Syria after a series of attacks attributed to Israel. According to AFP news agency’s source close to Hezbollah, Iran has been supporting Syrian government forces for over a decade. However, a string of assassinations targeting senior Iranian military officials has prompted Iran to shift its position in Syria.
The source revealed that Iran has pulled its military from southern Syria, including the provinces of Quneitra and Daraa near the Golan Heights. Despite the withdrawal from these areas, Iranians still maintain a presence in other parts of Syria. The decision to reduce military presence began after a strike on Damascus on January 21, which resulted in the death of five advisors to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the commander of the Al-Quds Force. Iran blames Israel for this operation.
Subsequent strikes on Iranian targets in Syria, such as the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, have further influenced Iran’s military positioning. As a response to the consulate attack, Iran launched an unprecedented strike on Israel on April 14. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Iranian troops have vacated southern Syria and Damascus, with Lebanese and Iraqi fighters taking their place. Despite the withdrawal, up to 3,000 Iranian troops, supported by militants from Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan, remain in Syria.
