Reduction of Islamic Republic's Military Presence in Syria Following Attacks Attributed to Israel

Reports indicate a diminishing military footprint of the Islamic Republic in Syria following consecutive attacks attributed to Israel. On Wednesday, April 24, the French news agency quoted a source close to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, stating that the Islamic Republic, which has supported Bashar al-Assad's government militarily during over a decade of civil war in Syria, has "withdrawn its forces from southern Syria, including the provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, which are adjacent to the Golan Heights," following attacks that targeted IRGC commanders in recent months. These sources also say that the Islamic Republic's military presence continues in other parts of Syria. In recent months, a series of attacks on Iranian targets in Syria have occurred, widely believed to be carried out by Israel. The latest of these attacks was on April 2, during which the Iranian consulate in Damascus was targeted, resulting in the deaths of several high-ranking IRGC officials, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the IRGC Quds Force (Syria and Lebanon branch), Hossein Amanollahi, chief of staff of the IRGC Quds Force (Syria and Lebanon), and his deputy, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi. In response to this attack, the Islamic Republic conducted several direct missile and drone strikes against Israel for the first time on April 14 and 15, escalating regional tensions. A source close to Hezbollah stated that the Islamic Republic began withdrawing its forces following the January 19, 2023 attack that resulted in the deaths of five IRGC members in Damascus. Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in the UK, also stated that the Islamic Republic's forces have retreated from Damascus and southern Syria, with Iranian-supported Lebanese and Iraqi fighters taking their place. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly claimed it has no military forces in Syria, asserting that only a number of Iranian officers are present to provide advice and military training. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the presence of nearly three thousand Iranian military personnel in Syria and tens of thousands of trained fighters from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, and others, trained by the Islamic Republic. Abdulrahman noted that many Iranian military advisors have left Syria in recent months, but some remain in Aleppo province in the north and Deir ez-Zor province in the east. Recent visitors to Damascus told the French news agency that the Islamic Republic's presence in the Syrian capital is less visible, with several Iranian military offices in the area known as the Old City of Damascus being closed. They also reported that flags and images of Iranian leaders that were previously displayed in parts of Damascus have now disappeared. According to them, the Iranian presence is now only noticeable in Zainabiyah – a significant pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims in the southern suburbs of Damascus.