US, Israel ​Orchestrated Syria ​Crisis: Khamenei

Tehran: Iran's Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the political upheaval in Syria was the result of a joint "plot" by the United States and Israel and that the events in the Arab country were orchestrated in American and Israeli command centers.

His remarks came amidst widespread perceptions of pro-Iran governments overthrow as a significant blow to the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance," a political and military alliance opposing Israeli and US influence in the region.

The Iranian leader said although "one of Syria's neighbours ... has played and is playing a clear role" in that regard, the main "factors, conspirators, plotters and command room" were in the United States and Israel. He stressed, "We have evidence (for this), which does not leave any room for doubt".

Dismissing speculations about the weakening of the resistance front in the aftermath of fall of Damascus, the Iranian leader assured that the resistance front would only get stronger.

While Iran's leader did not name the neighboring country, his comments appeared to reference Turkey, a NATO member and long standing supporter of Syrian rebel groups. Turkey is widely believed to be the main backer of Hayat Tehrir al Sham which has overtaken Damascus. Ankara has conducted several cross-border incursions in northern Syria and remains a key player in the region's dynamics.

Iran has invested billions of dollars in supporting the Syrian government during country's civil war, deploying Islamic Revolutionary Guard forces to maintain foothold in the strategically situated Arab country bordering Israel and Lebanon. Syria has acted as a main supply route for Iran's allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian groups in Gaza.

Despite the fall of a friendly government in Syria, Ayatollah Khamenei insisted that Iran's regional alliance remains resilient, stating, "The more pressure you exert, the stronger the resistance becomes. Iran is strong and powerful--and will become even stronger."

Hours after the fall of Bashar al Assad, Iran said it expected relations with Damascus to continue based on the two countries' "far-sighted and wise approach" and called for the establishment of an inclusive government representing all segments of Syrian society.

Plea for Lebanon and preparations for Syria

Iran leader revealed that top officials of the armed forces had written to him, pleading to go to Lebanon because they could not bear what was happening to the country and Hezbollah under an Israeli onslaught.

"Compare this with an army that cannot endure and flees," Ayatollah Khamenei said, apparently referring to the Syrian army which disintegrated in the face of advancing militants.

Ayatollah Khamenei also said Iran had made all preparations to assist Syria, but the US and the Israeli regime closed all air and land routes to the Arab country.

"We were ready even under the difficult circumstances. They came to me and said they had prepared all the means needed for the Syrians and were ready to go. But the skies were closed, the land was closed. The Zionist regime and the US closed both the skies of Syria and the land routes; it was not possible" to go, he said.

If the Syrians "had had a say against the enemy, the enemy could not have closed their skies, nor could it have closed their land routes and we could have helped them", Iran leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei touched on divisions among the rebel groups in Syria, saying each group has its own agenda and all seek to stake out their own turf.

Ultimately, the Iran leader said, they will be evicted from Syria by the "zealous Syrian youth, so will the Americans who seek to strengthen their foothold in the country".