Reports in Syria of an explosion in the Damascus area/27a
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have reduced the presence of their senior officers in Syria following the wave of assassinations of their senior officers in recent times, which have been attributed to Israel - five sources familiar with the matter told the Reuters news agency.
Instead, they will rely more on the Shiite militias to maintain their influence in the country.
The latest attacks against IRGC targets, which began after the October 7 attack by Hamas, are some of the heaviest blows they have suffered since they began helping Bashar Assad's regime more than a decade ago.
Three of the sources said that Tehran wants to avoid a slide into direct conflict in the Middle East, while maintaining its interests in Syria through other means.
One of the sources - a senior regional security official briefed by Tehran - said senior Iranian commanders had left Syria along with dozens of mid-ranking officers, describing it as a reduction in presence.
He did not specify how many Iranian officers were involved.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the funeral of senior Revolutionary Guards officer Reza Mousavi in Tehran, December 28, 2023/Reuters
Iran tried to distance itself from the regional escalation while leaving the work to its network of militias in the region, attacking American forces in Iraq, Syria and the coast of Yemen, as well as Israel.
However, according to various reports, Israel exacted a price from the Revolutionary Guards due to their support for the militias, including Hezbollah, when the United States also threatens to strike Iranian targets following the killing of three of its soldiers in Jordan.
Three of the sources said that the Revolutionary Guards will manage the operations in Syria remotely, with the help of Hezbollah.
Another source, a regional source close to Iran, said that those still in Syria had left their offices and remained out of sight.
"The Iranians will not abandon Syria, but they have reduced their presence and movements to the greatest extent."
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