Iranian General Admits Major Defeat in Syria

In a rare public acknowledgment, Brigadier General Behrouz Esbati, Iran's top commander in Syria, admitted that Iran suffered a 'defeat very badly' following the recent ousting of Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces. In a leaked speech, Esbati criticized both Assad and Russia for their failures, revealing that Assad had rejected Iranian military proposals to confront Israel from Syria. He also accused Russia of undermining Iranian operations by disabling radar systems during Israeli strikes. Despite the setback, Esbati stated that Iran plans to reactivate its networks within Syria and will not pursue direct attacks on Israel at this time. His remarks contrast sharply with the more optimistic narratives from Iranian leadership, which downplayed the loss in Syria. The situation remains unstable as Iran seeks to maintain influence in the region despite the significant blow to its strategic position.