Syria's Assad isolated as allies abandon support
President of Syria Bashar al-Assad has not inspired confidence among his allies recently, and none of them came to his aid when opposition forces launched a swift attack. Weakened by a confrontation with Israel, Iran did not send additional forces to support the dictator's regime, reports "The Moscow Times."
When Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Damascus last week, Assad stated that his withdrawal from Aleppo was tactical and he still controls the situation, reports "The Moscow Times," citing an anonymous source in the Iranian government.
Araghchi reportedly said that Tehran is no longer able to send troops. "But we did not expect the collapse to come so quickly or expose such hollowness in his regime. This came as a shock to us, too."
Analyst Said Laizaz, close to the Iranian government, cited by "The Moscow Times" stated:
Allies abandoned al-Assad. "He has become a burden"
Assad had become more of a liability than an ally, which means his time had run out. Defending him was no longer justifiable, even if it marked a major setback for Iran - he said.
In Tehran, they began to view Assad with more suspicion. "Assad turned away from us when we needed him the most," says a source in The Financial Times, cited by The Moscow Times.
For more than a year, it was clear his time had passed. He had become an obstacle, a liability — some even called him a betrayer. His inaction cost us dearly, and he aligned himself with regional actors who promised him a future that never materialised - he adds.
Assad also began establishing contacts with Arab countries, such as the UAE, in hopes of help in rebuilding the economy. However, most former allies distanced themselves from Iran, analysts and politicians claim.
