THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 5:00 PM CET
Protests in Syria’s Coastal Region: Is Iran Preparing a Last Move in the Syrian Conflict?
Protests driven by remnants of the former regime erupted last Wednesday in several neighborhoods across the cities of Latakia, Tartus, Homs, Jableh, and Qardaha. Demonstrators chanted sectarian slogans, prompting security campaigns by the General Security Forces under Syria’s new administration. The protests, which were coordinated to occur simultaneously, were allegedly sparked by a circulated old video showing an attack on an Alawite religious shrine dedicated to Sheikh Abu Abdullah al-Khasibi in the Maysaloun area of Aleppo, northern Syria.
The video reportedly shows opposition fighters entering the Hanano Military Barracks in Aleppo, where the shrine is located, during the “Deterring Aggression” battle that began in late November. The footage also captures dead regime soldiers at the site and the barracks engulfed in flames.
UPDATE: 9:30 AM CET
Airstrikes on Positions of Iranian-Backed Militias Leave 130 Casualties
International Coalition Forces have completed the 123rd consecutive month of their operations in Syria. Syria experienced noticeable developments regarding the Coalition’s operations in 2024, mainly the dramatic and unprecedented escalation of military confrontations between US forces and Iranian-backed groups before the escape of the Iranians from Syria and the fall of Al-Assad’s regime. In addition, the International Coalition continued cooperating with Syria Democratic Forces through sending military and logistical supplies to Syria, participating in security campaigns that aimed to eliminate ISIS cells in SDF-held areas, and targeting jihadist groups and ISIS members and commanders in north and north-west Syria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has tracked and monitored all operations and movements by the International Coalition in 2024, which can be captured in the following main points:
401 ISIS members and commanders killed and arrested in 62 security operations with SDF
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET
Arab League Urges Iran Not to Fuel ‘Strife’ in Syria
Agence France Presse (AFP) – The Arab League regional bloc called on Iran on Thursday not to fuel “strife” in Syria, after the ouster of Tehran ally President Bashar al-Assad ended decades of rule by his clan.
Assad’s government crumbled on December 8, and he fled for Russia, another key backer of his rule, after an Islamist-led coalition of fighters wrested control of city after city until they reached Damascus.
With Assad’s fall, Iran lost a key ally in the region, just as its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah emerged massively weakened but not crushed from a year of war with Israel.
The Arab League, which last year welcomed back Assad after a decade of isolation, emphasised the need to “respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability, to restrict weapons to the hands of the state, dissolve all armed formations and reject all destabilising foreign interventions”.
The Beginning of The End for Iran’s Regime
The overthrow of Syria’s dictator signifies not only a profound shift in regional politics but also reveals the structural weaknesses of the religious fascism governing Iran. The regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who considered Syria his strategic depth, now faces the collapse of one of his regime’s most critical barriers to internal disintegration. The structural corruption and military incapacity of the Syrian army had already become evident during the country’s civil war. However, the new development is the psychological collapse and demoralization of the Iranian regime’s proxies, underscoring their strategic defeat, organizational disintegration, and lack of motivation among their forces.
The fall of Assad has consequences that extend beyond Syria’s borders. This event has vividly exposed the true weakness of the Iranian regime and the inability of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to maintain its regional influence. The IRGC, long serving as Khamenei’s military and security apparatus, can no longer sustain the strategy of supporting proxy groups in the Middle East. The failure of this strategy signals the end of the regime’s expansionist policies and the beginning of its downfall.
Tehran Accelerating Nuclear Weapons Efforts
In an important press update briefing of Dec. 19, 2024, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) regime opposition group reported on accelerated work by Iran to develop Exploding Bridgewire (EBW) nuclear detonators. According to the Nov. 8, 2011, Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on the Iranian nuclear program, EBWs are a key element in the development of an implosion-type nuclear device.
The IAEA was aware of Iran’s development of EBWs as far back as 2008 but Iran did not reveal to the IAEA why it needed them and has attempted to obscure their key importance for a nuclear weapon device.
Iran’s State-Run Publications Admit That The “Playing Field Has Changed”
Following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship in Syria, Iran’s regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made considerable efforts to restore the morale of his disillusioned forces through speeches filled with lies and distortions. He attempted to cover up his strategic defeats with contradictory and baseless statements, aiming to motivate his forces. In a December 11 speech, Khamenei blatantly made nonsensical remarks, figuratively beating a dead. At a time when the collapse and disintegration of Assad’s mercenaries had become the world’s top news, he stated: “Certainly, the brave Syrian youth will rise, resist, sacrifice, and even suffer losses, but they will overcome this situation!” These remarks were made as the Syrian people and “brave youth” in the streets of various cities were celebrating Assad’s ouster. In fear of the consequences of this strategic defeat, Khamenei officially declared that highlighting defeats or demoralizing the Basij forces was a crime punishable by law.
Iran’s Tourism Industry Faces Collapse Amid Political and Social Challenges
Iran’s tourism industry has suffered a devastating blow, with over half of its travel agencies shutting down and a dramatic decrease in foreign visitors. According to a recent research report, the stagnation in foreign tourist arrivals has resulted in the closure of 3,000 out of 5,000 travel agencies in the country. Over the past nine months, 16 countries, including France, Germany, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, have issued travel warnings advising their citizens to avoid traveling to Iran or to leave the country entirely.
Etemad newspaper reports that these warnings cite regional tensions, the risk of dual nationals being arrested, and participation in protest rallies as primary concerns. Additionally, legal and religious restrictions in Iran, coupled with advisories about local laws, avoiding unauthorized photography, and endemic diseases, have contributed to heightened caution. Many of these warnings are listed with high alert levels (red) on the official websites of these countries’ foreign ministries and are expected to remain in effect until at least the end of 2024.
The Fall of Assad: A Blow to Iran’s Proxy Forces and Regional Influence
The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, one of the most critical regional allies of the Iranian theocracy, has triggered a seismic political shift in the Middle East. For Tehran, Assad’s downfall marks not only the loss of a key partner but also a devastating blow to its broader expansionist ambitions. Ahmad Khatami, a senior member of Iran’s Guardian Council and Assembly of Experts, recently admitted to the challenges posed by Assad’s fall. In a speech, he urged leaders of Iran’s proxy forces in Iraq to remain vigilant, warning them against being “deceived by America’s false promises.” He called for decisive action, emphasizing the need to “break the feet of Takfiri terrorists in Syria.”
The Iranian Rial Hits Record Low Amid Economic Turmoil
By noon on Wednesday, December 25, the US dollar reached a minimum price of 79,100 tomans in Tehran’s Ferdowsi Bazaar. This marked a continued surge in the value of foreign currencies and the cost of dollar-linked goods, highlighting the accelerating economic challenges faced by Iran. While the Iranian regime’s state-controlled media and officials attempt to frame the recent unblocking of WhatsApp and Google Play as a major accomplishment of Masoud Pezeshkian’s government, these efforts fall flat in the face of broader societal and economic issues.
The ongoing censorship of hundreds of websites and social networks, the persistence of guidance patrol forces on the streets, heightened military tensions, and intensifying economic sanctions paint a bleak picture.
Housing Market Stagnation in Iran: Despite Rising Dollar Rates, “No Buyers for Housing”
According to reports from Iranian economic sources, the stagnation in Iran’s housing market has intensified, with real estate agents reporting a decline in visits and a lack of pre-holiday market activity. Studies indicate that buyers with limited budgets are turning to small-sized, older units and even basement apartments. The state-run newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad reports that apartments priced below 40 billion rials (approximately $51,280) are mostly located in eastern and southern Tehran, with areas ranging from 30 to 80 square meters. For instance, a 75-square-meter, 30-year-old unit in the Jashnvareh neighborhood is priced at 30 billion rials (approximately $38,400).
Air Pollution Intensifies in Iran’s Large Cities
The persistent air pollution in Iranian metropolises for the ninth consecutive day has led to the shift of schools to online learning and the closure of universities and public and private organizations in several cities and provinces, including Tehran. In addition to Tehran, schools, universities, and public and private organizations in the provinces of Tabriz, Alborz, Qazvin, Mashhad, and Arak were also declared remote today. On the morning of Wednesday, December 25, Tehran Air Quality Control Company reported the air quality index (AQI) in Tehran at 157, categorizing it as “unhealthy for all age groups.”
According to data from Tehran’s air pollution monitoring stations, 20 stations are in the “red” (hazardous) status, while the remaining are in the “orange” (unhealthy) zone.
Iranian Communities Worldwide: Join the 29th #FreeIranTelethon, Supporting Simay-e-Azadi (INTV), January 17-19, 2025
December 26, 2024—Iranian communities, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) around the globe are extending invitations to their compatriots through video messages and pictures, urging them to join the 29th #FreeIranTelethon in support of Simay-e-Azadi (INTV) scheduled for January 17-19, 2025.
Simay-e-Azadi-INTV’s 29th National Assistance Program: Supporting the Voice of Freedom – #FreeIranTelethon, January 17-19, 2025
The Public Relations Office of Simay-e-Azadi – Iran National Television (INTV) is proud to announce the 29th National Assistance Program (Telethon), scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 17th, 18th, and 19th, 2025. This event calls on fellow citizens and dedicated supporters to unite in solidarity.