Statements from Iranian government officials or verified news reports

Iranian FM Reveals Prior Knowledge of HTS Attack on Aleppo, Assad Surprised by Syrian Army's Inability to Respond

Dec 8, 2024, 06:49 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has revealed that Iran had prior intelligence about an impending attack on Aleppo from Idlib by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was shared with the Syrian government. Despite this, the Syrian army's inability to respond effectively was surprising, as was the speed of the unfolding events. During a recent meeting, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed his own surprise and concern over the Syrian military's performance, attributing it to psychological warfare and media operations affecting the army's morale.