Tehran’s Shiification Of Syria: Iran’s Hegemonic Drive – Analysis

After a bloody war that saw hundreds of thousands killed and millions displaced over a decade, Syria has been effectively divided into spheres of influence and de facto protectorates controlled by regional and international powers. Foremost among these has been Iran, which has come to exert huge influence not only over the Assad regime but also within Syrian society as a whole through a systematic Shiification strategy that has changed the country’s sociocultural character—a risky game in a region long afflicted by sectarian, religious, and ethnic conflicts.

SDF arrests several ISIS suspects during ongoing operation

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday announced the arrest of several Islamic State (ISIS) suspects during a recently-launched operation against the group in northeast Syria (Rojava).

The SDF on Thursday announced a new anti-ISIS mission dubbed Operation al-Jazeera Thunderbolt, targeting the terror group’s hotspots in northeast Syria’s al-Hol and Tal Hamis. The force later expanded the campaign to Syria-Iraq borders.

Turkey’s overtures to Assad all about crushing Syrian Kurds’ autonomy

Turkey’s security establishment remains immutably opposed to the consolidation of any form of Kurdish autonomy in Syria that would mirror Kurdish gains in neighboring Iraq.

Turkey’s overtures to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with last week’s meeting in Moscow between the Turkish and Syrian defense ministers, continue to resonate. Unsurprisingly, one of the most realistic assessments came from the one group that understands Turkish thinking best: the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Special Military Operation: results of 2022 and outlook for 2023

Katehon think tank

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine. The objectives of the Special Military Operation were the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, the elimination of the military threat coming from the Kiev regime to the Donbass republics (DPR and LPR). The conflict immediately took on a global character: NATO and EU countries, led by the United States, as well as New Zealand and Australia began providing military support to Ukraine, setting as their goal the military defeat of Russia. Sanctions were imposed against Moscow, its gold and foreign exchange reserves frozen, and Western business began to leave Russia. The Special Military Operation became a challenge for Russia itself, both militarily and politically, ideologically and economically.

Abandoning Afghanistan is dangerous for its neighbors

Following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan in August last year, the Taliban-led schismatic government in Kabul appears to have reached a diplomatic impasse. It seems like its neighbors, who had previously been eager to restore normalcy to the turbulent region, have given up on the Islamic Emirate.

US base in Syria struck by missile barrage in largest attack ‘of its kind’

Local sources confirmed that there were likely casualties among US forces, as the missiles reportedly struck the facility’s housing section

Washington’s military base in the occupied Al-Omar oilfield in Syria’s eastern governorate of Deir Ezzor, came under intense rocket fire late on 30 December in what has been described as the largest attack “of its kind,” with media suggesting the likelihood of US military casualties.

IRGC arrests seven riot leaders linked with UK intelligence services

The IRGC’s intelligence agency is currently identifying other members of this network that are operating both inside and outside the country

Seven individuals active during the recent riots in Iran’s Kerman Province with ties to the United Kingdom were detained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on 25 December, Tasnim news agency reported.

Protests expand against SDF and US occupation in Syria

According to the Syrian news agency SANA, demonstrations against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US occupation in Syria continue to grow.

The protests, which are still ongoing on 27 December, demand the expulsion of US forces and their regional allies from the Deir Ezzor province.

Iran will receive dozens of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets

Experts say US sanctions failed to reach their ultimate objective of forcing Iran into major political and military concessions

The Islamic Republic of Iran will receive an entire squadron of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia as Tehran and Moscow strengthen their defense and economic collaboration in defiance of broad sanctions and coercive measures, Al-Manar news reported on 28 December.