Behrouz Esbati, an Iranian common, partially blamed Russia for the autumn of Bashar Assad in Syria.
In a speech in Tehran, Esbati accused Russia of bombing an empty desert as an alternative of hitting Syrian rebels.
While troublesome to confirm, his frank statements are noteworthy since Russia is one in all Iran’s strongest allies.
A prime Iranian common has accused Russia of mendacity to Tehran by saying its planes have been attacking Syrian rebels after they have been as an alternative bombing the open desert.
On a uncommon break from Iranof the diplomatic line on Syria, Brig. General Behrouz Esbati partially blamed Moscow for the autumn of Bashar Assad’s authorities throughout a speech in a Tehran mosque.
A audio recording The speech was printed on Tuesday by Abdullah Abdi, a Geneva-based journalist who covers Iran.
“We have been defeated, and defeated very badly. We took a heavy blow and it was very troublesome,” Esbati mentioned The fall of Assadbased on a translation of The New York Times.
In the recording, Esbati, a senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, mentioned Russia informed Tehran it was bombing the headquarters of the Hayat Tahrir al-Shamthe insurgent group main Assad’s ouster.
But Moscow’s forces have been as an alternative “concentrating on deserts,” Esbati mentioned.
Esbati additionally accused Russia of turning off the radars when Israel launched attacks against Syria in 2024, permitting Tel Aviv forces to assault extra successfully.
The common additionally largely blamed Assad’s fall on inner corruption, saying corruption was widespread amongst Syria’s high-ranking officers and generals.
He added that relations between Damascus and Tehran have grow to be strained over the previous 12 months as a result of Assad has rejected Iranian requests to facilitate assaults on Israel by Syria.
Business Insider was unable to independently confirm Esbati’s claims. But they characterize an exceptionally candid evaluation amongst Iran’s prime brass of its place in Syria, the place a brand new political management continues to be coalescing in Assad’s absence.
Iran has formally maintained a a lot milder tone Assad’s government fell, stating on the time that Syria’s destiny relied on its individuals and that he would “spare no effort to assist set up safety and stability in Syria.”
Assad, a longtime ally of each Iran and Russia, fled Damascus in early December as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s forces raided the capital from the northwest. International observers consider the insurgent advance occurred largely as Flya key supply of army energy for Assad, has seen its assets depleted by the struggle in Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry didn’t reply to a request for remark despatched by BI outdoors of regular enterprise hours.
Esbati’s remarks got here as a former senior Assad aide informed the Saudi government-owned newspaper Al-Arabiya Russian President Vladimir Putin had stalled on Monday military assistance to Syria.
Kamel Saqr mentioned Assad had requested Putin to personally approve the airlift of army support to Syria – and that the Russian chief agreed.
The support was purported to be transported by way of Iranian planes, however Saqr mentioned Tehran informed Assad it had not obtained any requests from Moscow.
Assad then requested Moscow for info, however “no response got here,” Saqr mentioned.
Assad’s fall, which neither Moscow nor Tehran stepped as much as stop, carried profound implications for Russian forces within the area. Moscow had beforehand relied on an air base and a naval basewhich he retained underneath an settlement with Assad, for his operations in Africa and the Mediterranean.
It is unclear whether or not Russia will in the end be capable of proceed sustaining these two services, however reviews present that it’s making ready to maneuver giant components of its services equipment outside Syria. Ukraine mentioned on Friday that Moscow deliberate to take action move their assets to Libya.
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