According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), Iran is reportedly reducing its military presence in Syria after a series of attacks that were attributed to Israel. Sources close to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, revealed that Iran has been supporting Syrian government forces for over a decade. However, a recent string of assassinations targeting senior Iranian military officials has prompted the country to shift its military positioning in Syria.
Iran’s decision to reduce its 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. The source indicated that Iran has pulled its military from southern Syria, including the provinces of Quneitra and Daraa near the Golan Heights. Despite this withdrawal from these areas, Iranians still maintain a presence in other parts of Syria.
Further attacks on Iranian targets in Syria, such as the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1st have further influenced Iran’s military positioning. As a response to the consulate attack, Iran launched an unprecedented strike on Israel on April 14th. 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 this withdrawal, up to 3,000 Iranian troops, supported by militants from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan remain in Syria.