Iranian supreme leader identifies forces behind Assad's removal
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has claimed that the armed revolt in Syria was orchestrated by the US and Israel. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the US and Israel of orchestrating the armed revolt in Syria that led to the fall of former President Bashar Assad. He dismissed assertions that recent changes in the Middle East have diminished Iran and its allies.
In late August, several armed opposition groups, with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham at the forefront, launched a surprise offensive in Syria. Government forces offered minimal resistance, allowing militants to seize several key cities, culminating in the capture of the capital, Damascus, on Saturday. Assad and his family subsequently fled to Russia, where they were granted asylum.
During a large gathering on Wednesday, Khamenei remarked, “there should be no doubt that what happened in Syria was the result of a joint American-Zionist plot.” He addressed the future of the ‘Resistance Front,’ a coalition of Iranian-backed factions in the region, asserting that despite some analysts’ predictions, this structure "will encompass the entire region more than ever." He emphasized that “Resistance is… a doctrine that grows stronger under pressure.”
Khamenei further claimed that “Iran is strong and powerful, and will become more powerful” in light of Assad's removal from power. He expressed a belief that the US would eventually be compelled to withdraw from the Middle East due to the efforts of the ‘Resistance Front.’
In a video address on Sunday, outgoing US President Joe Biden pointed to Assad's ousting as a consequence of Washington's ongoing strategy to weaken Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah, all of whom have strongly supported Assad since the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. Biden highlighted the impact of US sanctions on the Syrian government, military presence in the country, and backing for Kurdish militias in the northeast region.
“Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East,” Biden stated confidently.
On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Assad’s removal was a “direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah.”
Recently, the Israeli military gained control over the demilitarized buffer zone along the Syrian border, established following the 1974 disengagement agreement near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Israel Defense Forces have also executed extensive strikes on various military installations in Syria, citing perceived security threats.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
In late August, several armed opposition groups, with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham at the forefront, launched a surprise offensive in Syria. Government forces offered minimal resistance, allowing militants to seize several key cities, culminating in the capture of the capital, Damascus, on Saturday. Assad and his family subsequently fled to Russia, where they were granted asylum.
During a large gathering on Wednesday, Khamenei remarked, “there should be no doubt that what happened in Syria was the result of a joint American-Zionist plot.” He addressed the future of the ‘Resistance Front,’ a coalition of Iranian-backed factions in the region, asserting that despite some analysts’ predictions, this structure "will encompass the entire region more than ever." He emphasized that “Resistance is… a doctrine that grows stronger under pressure.”
Khamenei further claimed that “Iran is strong and powerful, and will become more powerful” in light of Assad's removal from power. He expressed a belief that the US would eventually be compelled to withdraw from the Middle East due to the efforts of the ‘Resistance Front.’
In a video address on Sunday, outgoing US President Joe Biden pointed to Assad's ousting as a consequence of Washington's ongoing strategy to weaken Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah, all of whom have strongly supported Assad since the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. Biden highlighted the impact of US sanctions on the Syrian government, military presence in the country, and backing for Kurdish militias in the northeast region.
“Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East,” Biden stated confidently.
On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Assad’s removal was a “direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah.”
Recently, the Israeli military gained control over the demilitarized buffer zone along the Syrian border, established following the 1974 disengagement agreement near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Israel Defense Forces have also executed extensive strikes on various military installations in Syria, citing perceived security threats.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
