Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has strongly condemned the role of Iranian-backed militias in Syria under the previous Assad regime, describing their presence as a “strategic threat” to both Syria and the broader Middle East. In an interview with Syria TV on February 4, Al-Sharaa stated, “The presence of Iranian militias during the previous regime was a strategic threat that endangered the entire region.”
The Syrian leader emphasized that the Iranian regime’s intervention in Syria was not only detrimental to the country but also posed a serious risk to regional stability. “Iranian-backed forces were using Syria as a platform for instability, creating conditions that could have led to the fragmentation of the entire region,” he said.
Al-Sharaa’s remarks highlight a significant shift in Syria’s foreign policy following the fall of the Assad regime. For years, Iran maintained a strong military and political presence in Syria, supporting Assad through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and allied militias like Hezbollah. The new Syrian leadership is now signaling a clear break from this alliance, prioritizing Syria’s sovereignty and regional reintegration.
#Iran News: #Syrian Interim Foreign Minister Urges Tehran to Rethink Policy Amid Shifting Allianceshttps://t.co/89JDzGNIPX
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 2, 2025
The Syrian leader also criticized the destabilizing effect of Iranian-backed groups, stating, “Had the Assad regime remained in power for another ten years, we would have seen a scenario similar to Iraq—sectarian conflict and foreign-backed militias dividing the country.”
Al-Sharaa outlined his administration’s vision for a Syria that is no longer dependent on external actors, emphasizing national unity and the restoration of law and order. “Syria will not be ruled by any single person or foreign power, but by the law,” he stated, adding that his government is committed to ensuring that all armed groups, including foreign militias, are disbanded or brought under state control.
His priorities include:
- Eliminating foreign-backed militias, particularly those linked to Iran.
- Preventing Syria from becoming a battleground for external conflicts.
- Reforming the military, transforming it into a national army that represents all Syrians rather than serving the interests of an external power.
#Iran News: #AhmedAlSharaa Criticizes Tehran’s Meddling as Syrian Leadership Changeshttps://t.co/NLUbskWt6W
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 29, 2024
Al-Sharaa also emphasized that his government is actively working to restore relations with Syria’s neighbors, which had been strained due to Assad’s policies and Iranian intervention. “We are engaging in serious discussions to ensure that Syria is a stabilizing force in the region rather than a source of conflict,” he said.
The clerical regime in Iran has long regarded Syria as its “35th province,” integral to what it considered its “strategic depth” in the region. However, the collapse of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the consequent fall of the Assad regime has severed Tehran’s critical land corridor to Hezbollah in Lebanon, significantly weakening the mullah’s influence and diminishing its primary regional alliance.