WSJ: Israel Blocks Iran's Efforts to Assist Assad
Sources cited by the newspaper suggest that the possibility of Israeli airstrikes hindered Tehran's ability to bolster its ally. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
An Iranian military plane was reportedly compelled to return over Syria to evade potential targeting by Israeli jets.
As the Wall Street Journal noted, Iran has been unable to provide former Syrian President Bashar Assad with military support due to the risk of Israeli airstrikes on its transport aircraft.
On Saturday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadists and other opposition forces capitalized on the situation in Damascus, seizing control just under two weeks after commencing a surprise offensive from the northern provinces of Idlib and Aleppo. Initially, Russian forces conducted airstrikes against the advancing militants, but the Syrian Army refrained from engagement as the opposition approached Damascus. Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry stated on Sunday that Assad had already consented to peacefully relinquish power by the time the rebels arrived in the capital.
Iran, which, alongside Russia, aided Assad in regaining significant territory during the Syrian Civil War, informed the former president that “help for his regime would be limited in nature, if it came at all,” according to the Wall Street Journal's reporting of anonymous “Syrian officials.”
These sources indicated that Tehran attributed the lack of preparation for the offensive to Assad himself. Furthermore, they conveyed that it was infeasible to dispatch military reinforcements due to Israeli threats. An Iranian military aircraft heading to Syria was reportedly forced to turn back last week because of the danger posed by Israeli airstrikes.
At that time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expressing that Tehran would contemplate open military intervention in Syria should it receive a request from Damascus.
With Assad and his family now granted asylum in Moscow and his adversaries assuming power, both the United States and Israel have sought to claim credit for his downfall. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked on Sunday that the ousting of Assad was the “direct result” of Israel’s efforts against Lebanese Hezbollah militants and airstrikes on Iran, which hindered their capacity to bolster the Syrian Army.
Later that day, US President Joe Biden stated that American military aid to Israel, combined with sanctions on Tehran and Damascus, along with the occupation of Syria’s oil fields by US forces, “shifted the balance of power in the Middle East” and created “new opportunities” for the Syrian opposition.
Both Russia and Iran have urged the Syrian opposition to construct a government that caters to the diverse needs of Syrian society while adhering to UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Passed in 2015, this resolution advocates for a peaceful resolution to the Syrian Civil War, free elections, and the establishment of a new constitution. Moscow and Tehran have also affirmed their commitment to maintaining relations with Damascus.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
As the Wall Street Journal noted, Iran has been unable to provide former Syrian President Bashar Assad with military support due to the risk of Israeli airstrikes on its transport aircraft.
On Saturday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadists and other opposition forces capitalized on the situation in Damascus, seizing control just under two weeks after commencing a surprise offensive from the northern provinces of Idlib and Aleppo. Initially, Russian forces conducted airstrikes against the advancing militants, but the Syrian Army refrained from engagement as the opposition approached Damascus. Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry stated on Sunday that Assad had already consented to peacefully relinquish power by the time the rebels arrived in the capital.
Iran, which, alongside Russia, aided Assad in regaining significant territory during the Syrian Civil War, informed the former president that “help for his regime would be limited in nature, if it came at all,” according to the Wall Street Journal's reporting of anonymous “Syrian officials.”
These sources indicated that Tehran attributed the lack of preparation for the offensive to Assad himself. Furthermore, they conveyed that it was infeasible to dispatch military reinforcements due to Israeli threats. An Iranian military aircraft heading to Syria was reportedly forced to turn back last week because of the danger posed by Israeli airstrikes.
At that time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expressing that Tehran would contemplate open military intervention in Syria should it receive a request from Damascus.
With Assad and his family now granted asylum in Moscow and his adversaries assuming power, both the United States and Israel have sought to claim credit for his downfall. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked on Sunday that the ousting of Assad was the “direct result” of Israel’s efforts against Lebanese Hezbollah militants and airstrikes on Iran, which hindered their capacity to bolster the Syrian Army.
Later that day, US President Joe Biden stated that American military aid to Israel, combined with sanctions on Tehran and Damascus, along with the occupation of Syria’s oil fields by US forces, “shifted the balance of power in the Middle East” and created “new opportunities” for the Syrian opposition.
Both Russia and Iran have urged the Syrian opposition to construct a government that caters to the diverse needs of Syrian society while adhering to UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Passed in 2015, this resolution advocates for a peaceful resolution to the Syrian Civil War, free elections, and the establishment of a new constitution. Moscow and Tehran have also affirmed their commitment to maintaining relations with Damascus.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
