Iran Accuses US and Israel of Plotting to Weaken Syria and the Axis of Resistance

Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Major-General Mohammad Bagheri, has raised alarm over the current situation in Syria, accusing the United States and Israel of collaborating to weaken Syria and its allies in the Middle East. In a statement on Tuesday, Bagheri claimed that the conflict in Syria is part of a broader plot aimed at destabilizing the "Axis of Resistance," a coalition that includes Iran, Syria, and several armed groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

Bagheri’s comments followed the recent advances of Syrian opposition forces in Aleppo, which led to the city’s capture by rebel factions. These developments, according to the Iranian leadership, align with US and Israeli objectives to destabilize the region. The Iranian parliament’s speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, also reiterated these claims, labeling the advances of Takfiri terrorist groups as part of a wider conspiracy orchestrated by the "illegitimate Zionist regime" and the United States.

In response to the loss of Aleppo, Iranian officials have vowed to continue supporting Syria in the face of foreign intervention, citing the longstanding relationship between Iran and Syria in resisting external pressures. They have also warned that Israel and the US are using the Syrian conflict to further their regional influence, especially through their support of anti-Assad forces.

The Syrian rebel offensive, led by groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has prompted widespread concerns in the region. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, a key member of the Axis of Resistance, is also recovering from significant losses in its military engagements with Israel. Despite Israel’s efforts to weaken Hezbollah through airstrikes, the group is reportedly rebuilding its forces and continuing to pose a threat to Israel and its allies.

The ongoing tensions in Syria and the broader Middle East have led to further geopolitical complexities, with Iran and its allies vowing to push back against Western forces and continuing to fight for regional influence.