Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has come with accusations on US and Israel of masterminding the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, suggesting that the plan was executed in the command rooms of both nations. In a speech on Wednesday, Khamenei also pointed to a neighboring country of Syria as being involved, hinting at Turkey’s role in the ongoing conflict.
Khamenei’s remarks highlighted the devastating impact of Assad’s potential fall on the “Axis of Resistance,” an alliance of Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria, which opposes US and Israeli influence in the Middle East. “What happened in Syria was mainly planned by the US and Israel. We have evidence of this,” Khamenei said, without directly naming the neighboring country, but strongly implying Turkey’s involvement. The NATO member has been a significant supporter of opposition groups aimed at removing Assad since the civil war’s onset in 2011.
Despite the challenges, Khamenei asserted that the strength of the Iran-led alliance in the region would only increase. “The more pressure you exert, the stronger the resistance becomes. The more crimes you commit, the more determined it becomes,” he declared. Iran, which has invested billions of dollars to back Assad and deployed its Revolutionary Guards in Syria, reiterated its belief that relations with Damascus would remain strong, advocating for the formation of an inclusive Syrian government representing all factions.
Khamenei’s speech comes amid tensions over Assad’s political survival, with Iran expressing unwavering support for Syria and its government. Despite the setbacks, the Supreme Leader emphasized that Iran’s influence in the region would continue to grow. “Iran is strong and powerful and will become even stronger,” Khamenei concluded.
