Iran urges HTS to safeguard embassy in post-Assad Damascus
The Iranian government, a long-time supporter of the Assad regime, seems to be altering its diplomatic strategies to preserve its influence in the region amid the uncertainty of Syria’s future political order.
Dec. 16, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iran has requested Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Syrian opposition group, to guarantee the safety of its embassy in Damascus in the wake of recent political change in the country.
“The Tahrir al-Sham Council must take responsibility for the security of our embassy, and they have assured to help the resumption of our operations in Damascus,” Iranian Ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari stated.
Akbari expressed optimism, adding, “We hope that our embassy in Damascus will resume operations soon.”
This statement comes following a significant shift in Syria’s power dynamics and structure. On Decs. 8, 2024, Syrian opposition forces seized Damascus and announced the end of Bashar al-Assad's regime on state television.
The development is a historic turning point in the 13-year-long Syrian conflict, which started as part of the broader Arab Spring uprisings in 2011.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group that has had a crucial role in the Syrian opposition, now holds considerable power in the post-Assad Syria.
The Iranian government, a long-time supporter of the Assad regime, seems to be altering its diplomatic strategies to preserve its influence in the region amid the uncertainty of Syria’s future political order.
