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TEHRAN \u2013 The commander-in-chief of Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, has commended the sacrifices made by IRGC forces in Syria, emphasizing their pivotal role in resisting militants.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Thursday, Salami revealed that IRGC members were the last to leave the battlefield in Syria following the resurgence of armed terror groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which recently led an attack culminating in the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad\u2019s government.<\/p>\n
Addressing the evolving political and military situation in Syria, Salami rejected the notion that Iran should have shouldered the entire burden of Syria\u2019s defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSome expect us to fight in place of the Syrian army. Is it logical for the IRGC and Basij forces to take on full responsibility while Syria\u2019s army merely observes? Moreover, our access to Syria was severely restricted, but the Islamic Republic worked tirelessly to offer support,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Salami asserted that IRGC forces were the last defenders on Syria\u2019s resistance lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The IRGC chief stressed the importance of adapting strategies to shifting circumstances, acknowledging that fixed approaches are inadequate for addressing the complexities of global and regional issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Responding to claims that Iran\u2019s influence has waned following the fall of the Assad government and ongoing Israeli strikes, Salami dismissed such reports, affirming Iran\u2019s strength. \u201cWe have a strong political logic and unquestionable legitimacy to defend ourselves. If we were weakened, we wouldn\u2019t have carried out successful operations like True Promise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Salami also lauded Syria\u2019s steadfastness, noting it remains the only Arab nation that has neither compromised nor normalized relations with adversarial powers. He described Syria\u2019s unyielding resistance to U.S. and Israeli aggression as a hallmark of its strength.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the resurgence of armed terrorist groups, Salami stated that the IRGC had previously warned Damascus about the militants’ growing threat. \u201cThe will to change, fight, and show resilience in its truest form was lacking. Sadly, the consequences are now evident,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n
Recently, HTS militants stormed Damascus after regaining significant ground in northern Syria in less than two weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exploiting the chaos, Israel launched a ground offensive in southwest Syria and conducted missile strikes across the region, claiming to have decimated up to 80% of Syria\u2019s military capabilities in one of its largest operations to date.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n