Syrian-Iranian relations under pressure amid Israeli strikes

Numerous media reports also suggest that Israel is exerting pressure on the Syrian government to curb Iranian and Hezbollah influence in Syria.

Since intensifying its military escalation in Gaza in October 2023, Israel has stepped up its attacks on Iranian targets in Syria. The latest strikes occurred in the city of Palmyra in the countryside of Homs in central Syria, where it targeted a military airport and Iranian headquarters, resulting in the killing of 36 people and injuring 50 others, according to the Syrian Ministry of Defense.

Major burden

Iranian affairs researcher Wijdan Abdurrahman says, “Iran and its proxies in Syria have become a major burden on Syria and its relations with Arab countries, as these nations have withheld reconstruction efforts and economic support due to Iran’s significant presence.”

Abdurrahman tells North Press, “After Syrian President Bashar al-Assad realized that his regime was no longer under threat from the opposition, we began to see reduced tensions between him and Western countries.”

Even Arab nations have restored relations with Syria, but this requires certain internal changes, including reducing the Iranian presence.”

The London-based political analyst points out that Iran has started to fear that al-Assad is trying to escape its influence, stating, “Even statements by senior Iranian officials, security personnel, and military figures have begun to attribute recent assassinations and attacks targeting Iranian military and political leaders to Syrian security agencies.

In response, “the Iranian regime is attempting to strengthen its relationship with the Syrian regime through increased visits by Iranian officials to Damascus, sending a message that ties between the two countries remain strong,” Abdurrahman explains.

Unified fronts

Hani Suleiman, director of the Arab Center for Research, argues that Syria is not fully committed to the concept of “unified fronts” and seeks to distance itself from this approach entirely.

Speaking to North Press, Suleiman notes, “At a time when Iran was under significant pressure and its regime faced existential threats, it also moved away from discussing unified fronts and instead advocated for separate fronts, relying more on Hezbollah in Lebanon for confrontations.”

Consequently, if Iran resorted to this at any time, “the Syrian regime is not bound by this concept of unified fronts, and its objectives and priorities have diverged significantly from those of Iran,” the analyst adds.

Suleiman explains that while Syria and Iran were closely aligned at one point, “Today, following the stabilization of al-Assad’s regime, its consolidation of state control, and the significant establishment of security, especially at the present time, and the price that Syria will pay is very high. The regime seeks to avoid continuing in such a strategy.”

Israeli pressures

Suleiman emphasizes that Israeli pressure on the Syrian government is genuine, particularly due to the growing role of Hezbollah and other militias within Syria in recent years.

He tells North Press, “Israel has significant concerns about these developments, as it views this front as potentially replacing the Lebanese Hezbollah front, especially after consecutive strikes and a leadership vacuum on the political level.”

He continues, “The Syrian front might be one of the most significant arenas for exerting pressure on Israel, enabling Iran to launch numerous operations and attacks against it, as we have witnessed in recent months.” 

Accordingly, “Israel is working to neutralize these threats by either enticing or pressuring the Syrian regime.”

On the other hand, political analyst Juma’a al-Issa commends Syria’s role in the resistance axis, describing it as “the fortress of steadfastness within the resistance axis, and its heart.”

He tells North Press, “Everything happening in Syria aims to pressure the country to stop supporting the resistance.”

Al-Issa stresses, “Syria is not dependent on or subordinate to Iran. Syria has been fighting the Zionist entity and supporting resistance movements even before the Iranian Revolution.”

He adds that Israeli “savage attacks aim to halt resistance support and disrupt supply routes for weapons and ammunition from Syria to Lebanon,” citing the attacks on al-Qusayr, al-Jdeideh, and the Masnaa border crossing as clear evidence.