Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected claims that the Tehran-backed axis of resistance had collapsed following the ouster of Syria’s longtime president Bashar al-Assad. In a televised speech on Tuesday, Khamenei stated that Israel and the United States were “completely wrong” in believing that the resistance had been weakened.
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Khamenei’s remarks followed Assad’s flight from Syria on December 8, after rebel forces captured Damascus. While Iran has distanced itself from the ousted leader, it has emphasized the strong historical ties between the two countries. Khamenei further stated that the fall of Assad would not weaken Iran, and declared that Israel, rather than Hezbollah, would be the one to face defeat.
