Khamenei Accuses US, Israel of Plotting Assad’s Overthrow
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alleged on Wednesday that the United States and Israel masterminded efforts to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Speaking during a televised address, Khamenei suggested that a neighboring country also played a role in the scheme, hinting at Turkey without naming it directly.
Khamenei described Assad’s potential removal as a major threat to the “Axis of Resistance,” an Iran-led coalition opposing Western and Israeli influence in the Middle East. He claimed there was evidence supporting his allegations and emphasized that external efforts to destabilize the region would only strengthen the coalition.
Turkey, a NATO member, has supported opposition forces against Assad’s regime since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. It also maintains control over parts of northern Syria following multiple military incursions targeting Kurdish groups it classifies as terrorists.
Iran, on the other hand, has spent billions of dollars and deployed Revolutionary Guards to bolster Assad’s government throughout the conflict. Despite challenges, Tehran reiterated its commitment to maintaining strong ties with Damascus, highlighting their mutual strategic interests.
“The more you exert pressure, the stronger the resistance becomes. The more crimes you commit, the more determined it becomes. The more you fight against it, the more it grows,” Khamenei said, reinforcing Iran’s stance. He concluded by asserting that Iran’s power would continue to grow amid regional and international tensions.
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