Iran Begins to Evacuate Military Officials and Personnel From Syria
Source: New York Times
Dec. 6, 2024, 7:40 p.m. ET
Iran began to evacuate its military commanders and personnel from Syria on Friday, according to regional officials and three Iranian officials, in a sign of Irans inability to help keep President Bashar al-Assad in power as he faces a resurgent rebel offensive. Among those evacuated to neighboring Iraq and Lebanon were top commanders of Irans powerful Quds Forces, the external branch of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, the officials said.
Guards personnel, some Iranian diplomatic staff, their families, and Iranian civilians were also being evacuated, according to the Iranian officials, two of them members of the Guards, and regional officials. Iranians began to leave Syria on Friday morning, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.
Evacuations were ordered at the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, and at bases of the Revolutionary Guards, the Iranian and regional officials said. At least some of the embassy staff has departed. Part of the evacuation is being carried out by planes to Tehran, while others are leaving via land routes to Lebanon, Iraq and the Syrian port of Latakia, the officials said.
Iran is starting to evacuate its forces and military personnel because we cannot fight as an advisory and support force if Syrias army itself does not want to fight, Mehdi Rahmati, a prominent Iranian analyst who advises officials on regional strategy, said in a telephone interview.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/world/middleeast/iran-syria-evacuation.html
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Strelnikov_
(7,842 posts)Basically, an Afghanistan style collapse.
Everyone is fed up.
May be a message there for our own MSGA type leadership.
ck4829
(36,122 posts)The Russian Navy base at Tartus in Syria appears under imminent threat as the civil war turns against the Assad regime. As the front lines draw closer, Russia is already taking precautions. Russia currently has five naval ships and a submarine based in Tartus. These comprise of two Gorskhov class frigates, one Grigorovich class frigate, two axillaries and an Improved-Kilo class submarine.
One of these vessels, the auxiliary Yelnya, was noted departing Tartus on the morning of December 2 2024, with information suggesting that some or all of the other vessels also left. This unexpected move comes several days into a sudden change in the situation in Syrias ongoing civil war. The Assad regime, of which Russia is a key ally, is now on the back foot. Opposition forces are rapidly advancing towards the capital.
Although unconfirmed, this ship movement is considered likely to be directly related to the situation on the ground. If so it is the first visible sign that Russia is moving valuable assets out of the country. Respected naval analyst Droxford Maritime noted on X and Bluesky that there is a realistic possibility departure is related to the worsening situation in Syria. Yelnya is a Project 160 Altay class oiler, which is a valuable asset and important to maintaining Russias force in the Mediterranean. Information suggests that the submarine, frigates and another auxiliary also sailed out of Tartus.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/12/first-sign-russian-navy-evacuating-naval-vessels-from-tartus-syria/