Iranian leaders ‘punching each other’ over Syria collapse – report

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in disarray after Assad’s stunning defeat in Syria, leaving IRGC leaders to blame each other for ally’s sudden collapse.

By World Israel News Staff

Iran’s leadership is facing an unprecedented crisis following the collapse of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, with internal turmoil brewing within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the loss of Iranian influence in the region, Britain’s Telegraph reported Monday.

Sources close to the situation told The Telegraph that there is growing dissent among IRGC commanders, with accusations flying over their failure to secure Assad’s survival despite years of Iranian intervention.

For over a decade, Tehran invested billions of dollars in an effort to bolster the Assad regime, viewing his regime as a cornerstone of its regional strategy to maintain proximity to Hezbollah and secure its interests near Israel’s border.

Yet, the unexpected flight of Assad as rebels neared Damascus has thrown the entire plan into disarray, leaving the IRGC scrambling to understand the full implications of the collapse.

An Iranian official described the situation within the IRGC as one of intense frustration, with commanders reportedly at each other’s throats, confronting each other with accusations and anger.

“The atmosphere is like something between almost punching each other, punching the walls, yelling at each other and kicking rubbish bins. They are blaming each other, and no one is taking responsibility,” the official was quoted as saying

At the center of the storm is Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani, the head of the Quds Force, who is being blamed for allowing Assad’s military to disintegrate.

Although few dare to confront him publicly, an IRGC source has accused Qaani of failing to prevent the unraveling of Iranian interests in Syria.

The loss of Syria is seen as a major blow to Iran, which relied on the country as a key supply route to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

With Iranian operatives either killed or fleeing, Tehran now faces a dire situation with no clear path forward.

The crisis has also triggered speculation that Qaani may be replaced, especially after his sudden disappearance from public view following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel in September.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has summoned senior IRGC commanders in recent days to address the deteriorating situation, with heated discussions about how to salvage Iran’s remaining influence in the region.

IranIRGCIslamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsSyria