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Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Tehran on Thursday, following the unexpected death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Assad's visit is reportedly to offer condolences, highlighting the deep political and military alliance between the two countries, which has faced criticism from many Iranians and Western governments. Khamenei used the opportunity to assert that Western nations and their regional allies "failed" in their attempts to destabilize Syria's government, amid widespread criticism of Iran's role in the Syrian civil war. The Syrian leader's absence from Raisi's funeral has raised questions about his commitment to Iranian allies. Iran has played a controversial role in the Syrian civil war, providing substantial military support to Assad's regime and affecting the war's dynamics. The Iranian forces and militias still in Syria pose a threat to Israel, which regularly launches air strikes against them. Iran's involvement in Syria has been criticized internationally for perpetuating the conflict, contributing to regional destabilization, and causing countless deaths and widespread displacement. The intervention has also drained Iranian resources, contributing to domestic discontent amidst a struggling economy exacerbated by international sanctions.
