Flashpoint / Global 30 May 2023 Middle Euphrates River Valley, Syria Share Facebook Twitter Email Print Back to Map I. Why it Matters With the campaign against ISIS in Syria seemingly drawing to a close, the Euphrates marks a rough dividing line between forces backed by Iran and the U.S. that compete over territorial control. To the river’s east are territories controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), while pro-regime, Iran-backed forces dominate the western banks. Mutual concerns over the other side’s presence and long-term intentions in the area could prompt clashes between their allied forces, which in turn could draw in Tehran and Washington. II. Recent Developments 30 May 2023 The U.S. sanctioned five Syrian entities and individuals for having “secretly helped the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad and its Hizbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) allies maintain access to the international financial system in violation of international sanctions”. View More 23 May 2023 IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi assessed that Hizbollah “thinks it understands how we think. This thought brings it to dare and challenge us where it is sure it will not lead to war. I see this as a good way to create surprises if necessary”. He further highlighted that “we have good preparedness in the northern arena. A campaign in the northern arena will be difficult on the home front. We will know how to deal with it, but it will be difficult. It will be seven times harder for Lebanon, and even more so for Hizbollah”. Halevi also discussed Syria and argued: “Iran uses Syria for a potential war zone with Israel… We are not indifferent to this. I would remind Bashar Assad of one very interesting fact in an era where data is being talked about: The countries that clung to Iran became failed states. If he wants to build after the civil war, let him take that to heart”. View More 8 May 2023 Iran’s defence minister met with his Syrian counterpart, and expressed readiness “to cooperate with the Syrian Arab Republic in establishing factories and launching production lines of strategic defence equipment”. View More 8 May 2023 Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson welcomed Syria’s readmission in the Arab League, asserting that “settling difference among Islamic countries and convergence and synergy among them positively affects stability and inclusive peace and paves the way for reduction in expedient foreign interventions in regional affairs”. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that “we do not believe that Syria merits re-admission to the Arab League. It’s a point we have made to all of our regional partners, but they have to make their own decisions. Our position is clear: We are not going to be in the business of normalising relations with Assad and with that regime”. View More 4 May 2023 Defence Minister Gallant warned that “over the past six months, Iran has sent aircraft to Syria on a weekly basis, delivering weapons to be used for terrorism. The Syrian regime should be aware that the IDF will respond forcefully to any attacks launched from its territory. We will not allow Iran to establish military power in Syria, or to build a ‘highway’ for the delivery of advanced weapons to Lebanon”. View More 3 May 2023 President Raisi visited Syria and met with President Bashar al-Assad, asserting: “Just as the Islamic Republic stood by the Syrian government and nation in the fight against terrorism, it will also stand by its Syrian brothers in the field of development and progress". The two sides inked a “Comprehensive Program of Strategic and Long-Term Cooperation”, and fourteen other agreements in various fields, including oil and energy. Raisi, who described his trip within Iran’s ”framework of supporting the resistance”, also reiterated that “the presence of Americans in Syria not only does not create security, but also disrupts the security of Syria and the region. The faster the Americans leave Syria, the more secure Syria will be”. A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson maintained that “the Iranian regime and the Assad regime continuing to deepen their ties should be of great concern to not just our allies and partners and countries in the region, but also the world broadly”, adding: “We will not normalise relations with the Assad regime. And we do not support others normalising with Damascus either… The U.S. believes that a political solution that is outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254 is the only viable solution to this conflict in Syria”. The following day, Raisi met with Palestinians in Damascus, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials, insisting that “the unity and cohesion of the resistance forces, the region and the Islamic world is necessary to accelerate the defeat of the Zionist regime [ie, Israel] and the liberation of the Holy Quds and the sovereignty of the Palestinians over their destiny”. View More 12 April 2023 Amid a visit by Syria’s foreign minister to Saudi Arabia, a U.S. official asserted that “our position is clear: we will not normalise relations with the Assad regime absent real progress towards a political solution to the underlying conflict… We have also made clear that the core architecture of our sanctions remains firmly in place”. View More 10 April 2023 The U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition reported that “service members responded to an indirect fire attack in the Deir al-Zor region. There were no Coalition casualties and no damage to Coalition infrastructure”. View More 3 April 2023 Iran’s UN ambassador wrote to the Security Council condemning U.S. 23 March strikes in Syria, and maintaining that Iran had “never been involved, directly or indirectly, in any attacks against the U.S. military forces in Syria and Iraq”. He called on the U.S. to “end its illegal occupation” of Syrian territory, while maintaining: “Iran’s presence in Syria is fully legal and is based on a formal request and consent from the Syrian government to provide assistance and support in the fight against terrorism. The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its inherent right to self-defence under international law and will take decisive measures to protect its forces, interests and facilities from any threat or unlawful act perpetrated by the U.S. or others”. View More 30 March 2023 A Pentagon spokesperson stated that “we now assess that eight militants were killed in our [23 March] strikes against two IRGC Quds Force facilities near Deir al-Zor”. He also confirmed seven injuries, and that “there were additional six U.S. service members that have subsequently diagnosed with traumatic brain injury as a result of Iranian backed attacks” on 23-24 March. The spokesperson further reiterated that “we will take all necessary measures to protect our troops and our interests overseas. To underscore, in response to a pattern of Iranian and Iran-backed attacks against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria and the continuing threat of future such attacks the U.S. has taken and, as necessary, will continue to, take actions against IRGC and its affiliates. This includes the use of force against IRGC and IRGC affiliate personnel and facilities in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with the intention to convince the Iranians to de-escalate threats against the U.S., our interests and our people.… We do not seek conflict with Iran but we will always protect our people”. On 13 April, a CENTCOM spokesperson confirmed 25 total U.S. casualties during the various exchanges. View More 25 March 2023 The spokesperson for Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) warned that “any pretext for attacking the bases created at the request of the Syrian government to fight with terrorism and ISIL[/ISIS] operatives in that country will be immediately met with a reciprocal response… Iran has suffered a lot in the battle against foreign-backed terrorism to reestablish durable security in Syria, and it opposes any action that endangers the stability of that country”. He also claimed that “the U.S. role in creating and supporting ISIL as a proxy in line with its political objectives in Syria and Iraq is evident… In the past two days, American helicopters with several sorties have transferred ISIL terrorists in Syria with the aim of increasing instability in the country, something that they have to be held to account for”. View More 23 March 2023 The Pentagon announced it had carried out airstrikes in eastern Syria targeting what it described as "facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)" in response to a UAV attack that killed a U.S. contractor; six others (one contractor and five service members) were injured. It further noted that "the intelligence community assess the UAV to be of Iranian origin". The following day, U.S. Central Command reported that a compound housing troops from the U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition had been targeted with ten rockets. There were no injuries or damages at the facility, but four civilians were wounded in the attack. A U.S. service member was injured in a separate incident at Mission Support Site Conoco. President Biden asserted that “the U.S. does not… seek conflict with Iran, but be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people”. On 25 March, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the U.S. strikes against what he described as “civilian targets”, rejected U.S. allegations against Iran and emphasised that “Iran’s military advisors are in Syria at the request of the Syrian government for the purpose of helping the country in its struggle against terrorism”. View More 21 March 2023 A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson reaffirmed that “we will not normalise with the Assad regime, nor will we encourage others, absent authentic and enduring progress towards a political resolution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254… We continue to urge anybody engaging with Damascus to consider sincerely and thoroughly how their engagements can help provide for Syrians in need, no matter where they live”. View More 13 March 2023 The U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition reported that “two 107mm rockets targeted Coalition Forces east of Deir al-Zor… The attacks resulted in no injuries or damage and the incident is under investigation”. View More 8 March 2023 Syrian state media reported that the blast from an ISIS landmine killed three and injured seven; unconfirmed account suggested the incident was a drone attack. View More 18 February 2023 CENTCOM confirmed that “two rockets [had] landed near Coalition Forces at Green Village in north east Syria”, causing no casualties or damage. There was no indication by CENTCOM of who was responsible, but the following day Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu contended: “Iran attacked an Iranian base in Syria”. View More 14 February 2023 CENTCOM reported that “U.S. forces in Syria engaged and shot down an Iranian-manufactured UAV attempting to conduct reconnaissance of Mission Support Site Conoco” in north east Syria. View More 13 February 2023 A senior U.S. defence official stressed that “our forces [in Iraq and Syria] are under constant threat from Iranian-aligned militia groups who seek to constantly harass our forces, which detracts and undermines our ability to continue prosecuting the defeat ISIS mission, and it also directly undermines, threatens and jeopardises the recovery efforts of those local communities who, only a few years ago, were under ISIS caliphate rule, experiencing the worst depravities and atrocities. So it’s truly destabilising”. She further asserted that “we hold Iran accountable and responsible for these attacks because Iran is arming, training, equipping and guiding these groups”. View More 29 January 2023 Unconfirmed media accounts reported that “drones attacked a convoy of trucks” after crossing into Syria from Iraq via the al-Bukamal border. View More 25 January 2023 Iran’s UN envoy told the Security Council that “the presence of foreign forces in the north of Syria under the pretext of combating terrorism should not be used to violate and undermine Syria’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity... In order to create conducive grounds for ending the crisis in Syria, all uninvited foreign forces must leave that country without any precondition or delay, and terrorist groups must be confronted”. He further urged the Council to “compel the Israeli regime to end all acts of aggression against Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity immediately”. View More 13 January 2023 Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi reported that “we crossed 52 operations [against Iranian-related targets] in 2022”, adding: “Iran still has a desire… to put weapons and advanced capabilities in Syria… but there is no doubt that we have prevented what was supposed to be there. They wanted hundreds of surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles. They wanted tens of thousands of militiamen and a second Hizbollah. All of this was thwarted completely”. Asserting that the IDF had stopped more than 90 per cent of Iranian arms going into Syria, Kohavi noted: “Some of our action is to block the crossings – by air, ground or sea – and some is to hunt what gets in. Just look at the media reports and understand where we operate”. View More 4 January 2023 CENTCOM reported that “two rockets targeted coalition forces at Mission Support Site Conoco, north east Syria… The attack resulted in no injuries or damage to the base or coalition property”. View More 14 December 2022 Israel’s military chief of staff indicated that “we could have not been aware of the Syrian convoy a few weeks ago. We could have not known that it was heading from Iraq to Syria, we could have not known what’s in it and we could have not known that out of the 25 trucks, truck number eight was the one carrying weapons… We needed to send pilots to the right place and they had to evade surface-to-air missiles fired at them. They needed to attack, they needed to hit their targets and come back safely and not kill people who shouldn’t be killed. These are very advanced capabilities”. View More 29 November 2022 Iran’s UN envoy told the Security Council that “security and stability in the north of Syria can only be achieved by preserving and fully respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and any military operation in the north of Syria would only make the already challenging humanitarian situation even worst”, while denouncing what he described as “the robbery of Syrian people’s natural resources, particularly oil products, in areas occupied by foreign forces”. He further asked the Council to condemn “ongoing aggressions and terrorist attacks of the Israeli regime against Syria”. “[Israel’s] systematic and intentional targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly the attacks on commercial airports and humanitarian shipments, are a flagrant violation of international law”, he added, while underscoring Syria’s right to self-defence. View More 25 November 2022 CENTCOM reported that “two rockets [had] targeted coalition forces at the U.S. patrol base in al-Shaddadi… The attack resulted in no injuries or damage”. A spokesperson asserted: “Attacks of this kind place coalition forces and the civilian populace at risk and undermine the hard-earned stability and security of Syria and the region”. View More 17 November 2022 CENTCOM reported that “rockets [had] targeted Coalition Forces at the Green Village base in north east Syria. The attack resulted in no injuries or damage to the base or coalition property”. View More 8 November 2022 A U.S. official denied U.S. involvement in an airstrike against a purported fuel convoy at the Syria-Iraq border; media reports citing “people familiar with attack” suggested that Israel had been targeting a suspected arms shipment. View More 8 October 2022 CENTCOM reported that “a 107mm rocket attack targeting Coalition Forces near the Rumalyn Landing Zone failed”. View More 20 September 2022 A senior CENTCOM commander indicated that “we’re in a kind of uneasy statis” in terms of tensions between U.S. and Iran-backed forces, adding: “Things have kind of settled down, and there's an understanding, I think, amongst the Iranians and the [IRGC] Quds Force, that if they were to do something or to direct something against us, it would blow back on them”. View More 18 September 2022 The U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition confirmed that “indirect fire [had] struck in the vicinity of Green Village in Eastern Syria, constituting an attempted attack on our coalition forces and partners. There were no casualties or damage to infrastructure”. The coalition’s commander asserted that “actions like this are irresponsible and are attempts to distract our Partner Forces from their mission to clear ISIS. Due to its indiscriminate nature, the choice of weapon and the reckless manner of its use has needlessly put the lives of innocent civilians at risk”. View More 11 September 2022 Prime Minister Yair Lapid asserted that “Israel is working to prevent Iran from establishing terrorist bases throughout the Middle East and especially in Syria… Israel will not allow Syria to be used as an axis for the transfer of weapons to terrorist organisations, and will not accept the establishment of Iranian bases or militia bases on our northern border”. The following day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz posited that Iran had built “production facilities [in Syria] for mid- and long-range precise missiles and weapons, provided to Hizbollah and Iranian proxies. In other words, it became yet another Iranian front – a factory for advanced, strategic weapons”. “These sites, particularly the underground facility at Masyaf”, Gantz added, “host significant threats to the region and to the State of Israel… Masyaf, specifically, is used to produce advanced missiles”. He also said, “the Iranians are currently working to build missile and weapon industries in Lebanon and Yemen… If this trend will not be stopped, within a decade, there will be advanced Iranian industries across the region, producing weapons and spreading terror”. View More 31 August 2022 President Biden conferred with Prime Minister Yair Lapid “to consult on global and regional security challenges, including threats posed by Iran” and reiterated the “U.S. commitment to never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon”. The Israeli readout also noted Lapid underscoring “the importance of the strikes President Biden ordered in Syria”. View More 23 August 2022 CENTCOM confirmed U.S. airstrikes in Deir al-Zor “intended to defend and protect U.S. forces from attacks like the ones on August 15 against U.S. personnel by Iran-backed groups. The U.S. strikes targeted infrastructure facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson called the operation “a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, and asserted: “The sites targeted had no links to the Islamic Republic”. A senior Pentagon official said “we believe we have Iran dead to rights on attribution” regarding the 15 August attacks, adding: “Whether the JCPOA is reborn or not, it actually has nothing to do without willingness and resolve to defend ourselves. And I think the strike… was a pretty clear communication to the Iranians, that these things are on different tracks”. On 24 August CENTCOM announced that “U.S. forces responded… to rocket attacks at two sites in Syria” that injured three U.S. service members, with “initial assessments… that two or three suspected Iran-backed militants conducting one of the attacks were killed”. The following day it reported that operations with helicopters and artillery against “Iran affiliated militants… result[ed] in four enemy fighters killed and seven enemy rocket launchers destroyed”. View More 15 August 2022 CENTCOM confirmed that “al-Tanf Garrison… defended against three One-Way Attack Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that attempted to penetrate the base. None of the UAVs were successful and the attack resulted in no casualties or damage”. The same day, the U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition confirmed that “multiple rounds of indirect fire landed in the vicinity of Green Village in north-eastern Syria”, adding: “The rockets endangered the civilian population in the area and its infrastructure”. “The Coalition is proud to be a reliable partner in the efforts to maintain the lasting defeat of ISIS, and our commitment is unwavering despite these reckless actions by those responsible”, the coalition commander highlighted. View More 20 July 2022 Iran, Russia and Turkey convened a meeting of the “Astana Process” talks over Syria and jointly reaffirmed “their determination to continue working together to combat terrorism”, “rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground under the pretext of combating terrorism, including illegitimate self-rule initiatives” and “expressed their opposition to the illegal seizure and transfer of oil revenues that should belong to Syria”. The three countries also condemned “the continuing Israeli military attacks in Syria including civilian infrastructures... as destabilising and intensifying the tension in the region”. View More 20 July 2022 President Raisi told Syria’s foreign minister that “America’s withdrawal from east of the Euphrates and the entire region is the basic and root solution to the crises in West Asia”. The same day, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian conferred with his Syrian counterpart on “ways forward for all-out expansion of ties between the two countries, regional developments and international issues”. View More 19 July 2022 Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told Russian President Putin that “the occupation of the oil-rich areas east of the Euphrates by the Americans… should be resolved by expelling them from that area”. Relatedly, the U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition reaffirmed its commitment “to empowering and equipping our Partner Forces with skills and knowledge to provide fully capable local forces to defend north east Syria and its people against terrorist networks, contributing to peace and regional stability”. View More 3 July 2022 During a visit to Damascus, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian told President Bashar al-Assad that “we are opposed to use of military operations to resolve problems… Problems must be solved and concerns must be dispelled through direct talks and cooperation”. He also offered “unwavering support for the resistance to ensure lasting security in the region against the threats posed by the fake Israeli regime”. Amirabdollahian also conferred with his Syrian counterpart on “the capacities of both states for further enhancement of mutual relations in political, economic, industrial and commercial fields”, noting that “Iran’s technical and engineering capabilities can contribute to the implementation of the two countries’ joint big projects”. View More 24 MAy 2022 Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian conferred with his Syrian counterpart on bilateral relations while reiterating “Iran’s determination to provide necessary assistance to Syria to overcome the negative impacts of the Western coercive measures imposed on the country”. View More 17 May 2022 Referring to the transfer by Iran of what he described as “accurate munitions” to its regional allies, Defence Minister Benny Gantz declared: “Israel will continue to halt these efforts and prevent the threat to its citizens and the region”, adding: “The quantity of this strategic weapon in the hands of Iranian emissaries has increased significantly in the past year. In Iraq, there are hundreds of [munitions]; many dozens have been added this year. In Yemen, the number of [munitions] has increased in the past year, and the Huthis hold dozens of them”. View More 12 May 2022 The U.S. announced a general license “authorising specific economic activities in certain non-regime-held areas of north east and north west Syria”, asserting that it “supports the Biden Administration’s strategy to defeat ISIS by promoting economic stabilisation in areas liberated from the terrorist group’s control”. The State Department noted that “the authorisation does not permit any activity with the Government of Syria or other sanctions persons”, and went on to underscore that it did “not indicate any shift in the Administration’s policy towards the Assad regime”. View More 8 May 2022 President Bashar al-Assad visited Tehran and met with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Raisi. View More 7 May 2022 Syrian state media reported airstrikes in eastern Syria. View More 11 April 2022 Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz indicated that “Israel is operating against weapons transfers and other Iranian threats. In the recent period, we are seeing more stability in Syria and I see that there is some activity between Syria and members of the Arab League. If Assad wishes to be part of the [near] region, he will have to [cut] his negative ties to Iran and the terror that emanates from Syria”. View More 8 April 2022 The U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition reported that “U.S. air defence systems shot down an armed aerial system entering Al Asad Air Base”, causing no injuries. View More 7 April 2022 The U.S.-led counter ISIS coalition reported that “Coalition forces at Green Village in Eastern Syria received two rounds of indirect fire that struck two support buildings… four U.S. servicemembers are being evaluated for minor injuries and possible traumatic brain injuries”. View More 24 March 2022 Iran’s UN envoy told the Security Council that “Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be jeopardised in the name of fighting terrorism.… All occupying and uninvited foreign forces, including those of the U.S., must leave the country immediately and without any conditions”. He further denounced Israel’s “repeated violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, urging the Council to hold Israel “accountable for such acts of aggression and malice, as well as its blatant threats to use force against other regional countries”. View More 23 March 2022 During a visit to Damascus, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian conferred with President Bashar al-Assad on, inter alia, “the expansion of economic cooperation” and also hailed “the trend of the normalisation of ties between regional countries and Syria”, while highlighting that “as for regional tensions, the Islamic Republic opposes any war and supports resolution of disputes through dialogue and political means”. View More 15 March 2022 CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie described Iran as “the greatest single day-to-day threat to regional security and stability”, noting that “the risk of miscalculation and escalation remains high because of Iran's strategic calculation that it can simultaneously and discretely engage in diplomacy with and a proxy campaign against the U.S.”. McKenzie's statement to a Senate committee further addressed the role of Iran and Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. View More 26 February 2022 Iran’s UN ambassador told the Security Council that “the fight against terrorism cannot be used as an excuse to undermine Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The illegal presence of foreign forces in parts of Syria which has provided favorable conditions for terrorist activities in Syria, must end immediately”. The Iranian diplomat further denounced Israel’s “repeated violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity… We call on the Security Council to hold this regime accountable for such acts of aggression and its malign activities as well as its open threats to use force against other regional countries”. The following day, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, met with his Syrian counterpart. View More 3 February 2022 President Biden announced that “we have taken off the battlefield… the leader of ISIS” as the result of a military operation in north-western Syria. View More 31 January 2022 A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson reaffirmed that “we continue to believe that now is not the time for normalisation [with Syria under Assad]. Now continues to be the time for accountability for the atrocities of the regime”. View More 26 January 2022 The U.S.’s UN envoy told the Security Council that Washington’s goals in Syria included “sustaining the U.S. and Coalition campaign to prevent the resurgence of ISIS… [and] to support a political process, one led by the Syrian people, as envisioned and agreed by this Council in Resolution 2254”. During the same session, Iran’s ambassador maintained that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria continues to be seriously violated either through the occupation of parts of the country or by the aggression of the Israeli regime and the terrorists… While the Syrian crisis has no military solution, it cannot also come to an end without ending its occupation, restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity and confronting the threat of terrorism”. View More 5 January 2022 The U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition reported that its “forces were targeted… by eight rounds of indirect fire at Green Village, a Syrian Democratic Forces base with a small Coalition advisory presence, in north east Syria”; minor damage was reported. In response, according to the statement, the coalition “fired six rounds of artillery towards the point of origin of the attack... The Iran-supported malign actors fired on the Coalition and SDF from within civilian infrastructure”. The statement added that “hours before the attack, Coalition forces observed several launch sites of indirect fire rockets that posed an imminent threat in the vicinity of Green Village. Acting in self-defence, Coalition forces conducted several strikes to eliminate the observed threats”. A coalition official underscored that “the Coalition reserves the right to defend itself and partner forces against any threat”, while noting: “the Coalition continues to see threats against our forces in Iraq and Syria by militia groups that are backed by Iran”. View More 4 January 2022 The U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition struck what the Pentagon described as an area it believed was “going to be used as launch sites for attacks on Green Village”, a coalition base in north-eastern Syria. View More 20 December 2021 An Iranian diplomat told the Security Council that it “must compel the Israeli regime to end the occupation of the Syrian Golan and also stop immediately its aggressions against Syria”, adding: “all occupying and uninvited foreign forces must leave that country without any precondition or further delay”. View More 7 December 2021 The U.S. designated “two Syrian Air Force officers responsible for chemical weapons attacks on civilians, and three Syrian intelligence officers in Syria’s repressive security and intelligence apparatus”. View More 7 December 2021 U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan assessed that “since Donald Trump made the decision to pull the U.S. out of the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2018, Hizbollah has continued to menace Lebanon and the region. Iran’s proxies in Iraq and Syria and Yemen have continued to move forward. So, not being in the nuclear deal has hardly been a solution to the proxy”. He further asserted that “nothing about the nuclear deal stops the U.S.’s capacity to deal with those proxies. And we are prepared to do so”, adding: “ultimately, an Iran with a nuclear weapon is going to be a greater menace in partnerships with its proxies than Iran without one. And so it is our determination to ensure they never get a nuclear weapon, and diplomacy is the best way forward”. View More 6 December 2021 Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian met with his Syrian counterpart and noted “the need for special focus on promoting economic and trade relations”. He further denounced “the Zionist [ie, Israeli] regime’s aggression against Syria”, and charachterised “the military presence of foreign forces without coordination with and permission from the Syrian government as a source of insecurity in the region, particularly in Syria”. The Syrian minister also met with President Raisi, who asserted that “comprehensive planning should be done to develop and deepen relations”. View More 16 November 2021 On the sideline of a military drill in northern Israel, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted that “we are surrounded by security challenges and the goal is to utilise periods of relative quiet to build up strength”, adding: “we are dealing with Iran and its proxies, in Lebanon and Syria. It does not matter what occurs between Iran and the major powers. We are concerned by the fact that there is not enough firmness in the face of the Iranian violations; Israel will defend itself, by itself”. Speaking alongside Bennett, Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “the world needs to take action against Iran, and Israel needs to continue to do what it needs to on all fronts in general, and on the northern front in particular”. View More 12 November 2021 The U.S. State Department