Israeli Defense Minister's Reaction to Khamenei: Tehran is Responsible for the Fall of Its Ally

Israel Katz, the Israeli Defense Minister, responded to the Islamic Republic leader's accusation of a "joint conspiracy by the US and Israel" to oust Bashar al-Assad, stating that Tehran is responsible for the fall of its ally. Katz, speaking during an inspection of the border with Jordan on Wednesday, December 21, criticized Iran for its "efforts to create an eastern front against Israel in Jordan," emphasizing that Iran should blame itself and cease funding armed groups in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. He also announced that Israel would take measures to prevent Iran's attempts to smuggle weapons and finance terrorism in the border areas with Jordan. According to him, the Islamic Republic is trying to make the border with Jordan unsafe by smuggling weapons to the West Bank. The Islamic Republic leader on Wednesday called the rapid fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria a "joint plan" of the US and Israel, and without naming a specific country, said that a neighboring country of Syria also played a "clear role" in this event. It seems that Ali Khamenei was referring to Turkey. While Khamenei described the fall of Assad as a "coup with a plan from the US and Israel," other officials of the Islamic Republic, particularly those in Iran's diplomatic apparatus, had been trying to avoid "emotional reactions" and emphasize the "right of the Syrian people to decide their own government," indicating readiness to contact and communicate with the future leaders of that country. Khamenei stated that the fall of Assad was a "joint plan" of the US and Israel with the help of a neighboring country. Rebels led by Islamist groups announced the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule on December 18, 1403 (Iranian calendar), and forced him to flee after capturing Damascus. With the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule in Syria, the Islamic Republic has lost one of its main allies in the region. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has considered Assad's fall a significant victory in countering the Iranian axis, attributing it to Israel's strikes against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel, which immediately after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government crossed the so-called Alpha line and occupied Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights, has bombed over 400 positions related to the Syrian army, suspected ammunition depots of "chemical weapons," and positions of Iranian-affiliated militias in the past three days, warning that the next government in Damascus cannot align with Tehran.