Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has sent a clear message to Iran and Hezbollah that he does not want to drag Syria into a war with Israel. According to sources cited by the Israeli news site Kan-11, Assad expressed concern that continued Israeli attacks on Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria could undermine his power. He stressed that without it, the Iran-Syria-Hezbollah axis will lose strategic depth, which endangers this alliance structure.
Bashar al-Assad is reportedly trying to avoid direct involvement in the conflict with Israel. Syrian state television channels have already stopped broadcasting speeches by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, which may indicate that Assad intends to minimize Syrian participation in hostilities against Israel, despite his commitment to the Iranian axis. However, observers note that his position on Iran remains questionable: Assad could use tactical measures to preserve his regime while remaining in an alliance with Iran.
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There is speculation that Assad may be considering reducing his dependence on Iran. Some analysts point to the possible role of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an alternative patron of Syria. Several mediation missions from the United Arab Emirates to Syria are known to prevent the country from being dragged into war. Thus, Assad could use the changing geopolitical situation in the Middle East to weaken Iran’s influence or even break its control.
This situation highlights that Syria is currently trying to balance various forces while maintaining its strategic independence, despite pressure from Iran and Hezbollah.
Previously, Kursor reported that Syrian resident Bashar al-Assad continues to maintain neutrality amid the growing military conflict in Lebanon, despite the intensification of hostilities and the worsening situation around Hezbollah.
