Iran evacuates personnel in Syria as rebels further advance - NYT

Iran began evacuating its Quds Force personnel and military officials from Syria into neighboring countries such as Iraq and Lebanon, The New York Times reported Friday, citing regional and Iranian officials.

The officials said that two of the force’s top generals have fled to Iraq. This move comes as rebels who oppose Syrian President Bashar Assad have been seizing cities that are a threat to his rule.

The NYT report also noted the evacuation of diplomatic staff of the Islamic Republic, their families, and Iranian civilians from the country as well.

They began to leave war-torn Syria the morning of the report’s publication, ordered by their embassy in Damascus.

Not all evacuees were heading to Lebanon or Iraq. According to officials cited by the Times, some were flown to Tehran, while others were en route to the Syrian port of Latakia.

A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry denied that the Iranian embassy in Damascus was being evacuated, Ynet reported on Saturday.

Is Syria a lost cause for Iran?

The report also cited prominent Iranian analyst Mehdi Rahmati, who claimed that the Islamic Republic, despite its previous backing and military support for Assad, was unable, as an “advisory and support” force, to engage directly if Syria’s army didn’t want to fight.

He also said that Syria is unmanageable for Tehran – even through military operations.

Iran has used Syria as a route to supply weapons to Hezbollah in the country’s west.

Rahmati’s statements came despite Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s trip to the Syrian capital this week to meet with Assad to pledge the Islamic Republic’s full support.