In a detailed analysis by Al-Arab, the Iranian regime’s extensive setbacks in 2024 are examined, with Syria emerging as the focal point of its diminishing regional power. The piece, titled “How Can Iran Save Itself? A Question for 2025,” underscores the collapse of Tehran’s influence following Bashar al-Assad’s December 2024 flight to Moscow. This event marked a decisive end to Iran’s decades-long dominance over Syria and served as a significant blow to its regional ambitions.
According to Al-Arab, “Iran’s game in Syria and Lebanon is over,” as the fall of the Assad regime severed a critical bridge linking Tehran to its proxy, Hezbollah, in Lebanon. The report outlines how this defeat has triggered a dramatic shift in the Middle East’s balance of power. For the first time since 1966, Syria is no longer under Alawite rule, which has historically aligned with Tehran’s interests.
The analysis highlights the heavy toll Iran paid to sustain Assad’s regime, from deploying Revolutionary Guard forces to mobilizing Hezbollah fighters. “The Islamic Republic’s reliance on military might to prop up Assad ultimately proved unsustainable,” Al-Arab argues, pointing to the intervention of Russian forces in 2015, brokered by the slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, as evidence of Tehran’s overreach.
#Iran News: Tehran Alarmed by Syria’s Political Shifts, Says #Iraqi Parliament Speakerhttps://t.co/KeXzxkHWeB
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 31, 2024
By late 2024, the Syrian uprising overwhelmed Iranian-backed militias, forcing Assad to flee. Al-Arab notes, “Iran did not just lose Syria; it lost the strategic lifeline to Hezbollah in Lebanon,” cutting off a supply route that had been integral to its influence in the region.
The report also addresses the failure of the regime’s broader strategy to expand its influence through proxies, arguing that these groups have suffered devastating losses, leaving Tehran with fewer regional allies.
Domestically, these regional defeats are reverberating within Iran. Al-Arab observes, “The collapse of the Alawite regime in Syria is not just a regional event; it has profound implications for the Islamic Republic itself.” The Iranian regime faces mounting challenges, including economic stagnation, public discontent, and increased isolation. These issues, compounded by its regional failures, have put the regime’s future at risk.
Looking ahead, Al-Arab poses the critical question: “How can Iran save itself?” The report suggests that Tehran must acknowledge its defeats and abandon its expansionist ambitions. “Ending its game of ‘resistance’ in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq could be the first step toward preserving what remains of the Islamic Republic,” the article concludes.