ALBAWABA - A key Iranian general acknowledged that Iran has suffered a major strategic loss in Syria, according to the New York Times. This is one of the few times Tehran has publicly acknowledged failures.
In contrast to the official story, General Behrouz Esbati gave an open address last week that exposed the difficulties Iran experienced in its engagement in Syria, the daily said. It has been claimed that Esbati said, "We suffered a heavy defeat; it was a crushing blow to us."
Tensions between Iran and Syria's previous president Bashar al-Assad before to his ouster were clarified by the general's comments. Esbati pointed out that Assad had turned down many Iranian requests to establish a military front against Israel from Syrian soil, especially in the wake of the October 7, 2023 events.
The importance of Esbati's remarks was also highlighted by Mehdi Rahmati, a political analyst in Tehran who specializes in Syrian issues, who was mentioned in the publication. Rahmati said, "A lot of people are talking about this speech and wondering why he decided to share these things in a public setting. He freely exposes Iran's present position and questions the official position.
Political circles have been divided over the speech, which many see as a frank admission of Iran's regional weaknesses and a rare departure from official doctrine.
