The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Tehran’s ideological army, decided to withdraw its officers deployed in Syria on Thursday February 1, in reaction to the recent Israeli strikes, according to information reported by several security sources close to the matter.
The withdrawal of Iranian officers from Syria is not complete, however, but rather a strategic adjustment. The CGRI, the main player in Iran’s presence in the region, has indicated that it will rely more on local Shiite groups to maintain its influence, notably Hezbollah.
The partial withdrawal of Iranian officers from Syria thus represents a “reduction of presence” rather than a total abandonment. At the same time, Tehran is said to have stepped up the recruitment of Shiite fighters from Pakistan and Afghanistan for Syria, both of which Teheran prides itself on providing with cannon fodder.
The IRGC’s decision was motivated by two factors. The first is tactical, aimed at avoiding direct involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict, while seeking to preserve its regional influence.
The second has more to do with internal concerns. According to the sources interviewed, the Pasdaran fear that the Syrian security services may have leaked compromising information concerning the Iranian presence in the country.
If this hypothesis were to be verified, it would prove once again that Tehran is far from welcome in the region, even among its closest allies.
