Iran’s armed forces in crisis following Assad’s collapse - media

A furious internal struggle is unfolding within Iran’s armed forces as senior commanders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) blame one another for the sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

Sources within the IRGC revealed that these tensions have resulted in heated arguments, with some officials describing the atmosphere as “something between almost punching each other, punching the walls, yelling at each other and kicking rubbish bins,” Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

One official expressed disbelief at Assad’s sudden flight to Russia on December 8, saying, "No one ever imagined seeing Assad fleeing, as the focus for 10 years had been only on keeping him in power. And it was not because we were in love with him, it was because we wanted to maintain proximity to Israel and Hezbollah."

Iran had spent billions of dollars backing Assad’s government since it intervened in the Syrian civil war in the mid-2010s. Assad’s regime was central to Iran's "axis of resistance," a regional network that also included Hezbollah, and was a key player in Tehran’s strategy of countering Israeli and Western influence in the region.

However, the loss of Syria as a base for Iranian operations is seen as a devastating blow. Syria was crucial for Iran’s ability to supply Hezbollah, which had maintained a military presence on Israel's border. According to another IRGC official, the focus now is on how Iran can adjust to this “impasse,” though discussions about military support have largely halted as Iran’s leaders try to comprehend the full implications of the loss.

Some officials are placing blame on Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force, accusing him of failing to prevent Assad’s forces from dissolving. “No one dares to tell him to his face, but... he is the one to hold accountable and fire,” one source said. “He has done nothing to prevent Iran’s interests from crumbling. Allies fell one after another, and he was watching from Tehran. Even worse days might yet be coming.”

Amid the turmoil, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is expected to address the nation in the coming days. Rumors are circulating that Khamenei may replace Qaani due to mounting dissatisfaction within the military leadership.

Despite the chaos, Iran’s foreign ministry has tried to reassure the public, emphasizing the longstanding friendly relations between Iran and Syria. “The relations between the two nations of Iran and Syria have a long history and have always been friendly, and it is expected that these relations will continue,” it said in an official statement.

However, behind the scenes, Tehran is facing a difficult reality. Senior IRGC officials have admitted that Iran is in its “weakest and most vulnerable position in decades,” a sentiment echoed by international analysts. Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa programme, pointed out that while Iran might look for new ways to support its regional network, it is unlikely to find opportunities as it has in the past.

By Vafa Guliyeva