Iran has significantly reduced its military presence in southern Syria, according to a source close to Hezbollah and a war monitor, following a series of airstrikes attributed to Israel.
For over a decade, Iran has been a key military backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in the ongoing civil war. However, a recent surge in Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian commanders appears to be prompting a strategic shift.
“Iran withdrew its forces from southern Syria,” including provinces bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, a source close to Hezbollah told AFP. This pullback follows the April 1st Israeli strike that destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed several high-ranking Iranian military officials.
While Iran maintains a presence in other parts of Syria, the source confirmed a drawdown began after a prior Israeli strike in January that killed five Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) corroborates the withdrawal, stating Iranian forces have left Damascus and southern Syria entirely. SOHR director Rami Abdel Rahman claims Iranian-backed fighters from Lebanon and Iraq have taken their place.
Iran has consistently denied having combat troops in Syria, insisting their personnel are solely for military advice and training. However, SOHR estimates there were as many as 3,000 Iranian military personnel in Syria, alongside tens of thousands of Iranian-trained fighters from allied countries.
Abdel Rahman says many Iranian advisors have departed Syria in recent months, particularly after a March strike that killed a Revolutionary Guard. He acknowledges a smaller Iranian presence persists in northern and eastern Syria.
Independent reports from Damascus residents support the claim of a reduced Iranian footprint. Iranian military offices in the Old City are reportedly closed, and Iranian flags and leader portraits have largely disappeared from public view. The only remaining visible presence appears to be in Sayyida Zeinab, a prominent Shiite pilgrimage site on the city’s outskirts.
This development reflects the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. While the exact motivations behind the Israeli strikes remain unclear, they have demonstrably impacted Iran’s military posture within Syria. The situation raises questions about the future of Iranian involvement in the Syrian conflict and the potential for further escalation between Israel and Iran.
