Iran establishes "The Islamic Resistance," the new terror organization in Syria

Iran Establishes New Terrorist Organization in Syria: 'The Islamic Resistance'

The formation of this group is seen as part of Iran's ongoing attempt to maintain its power in Syria amidst the country’s tumultuous situation.

According to the Mehr report, the new organization was created in response to the "recent developments Syria has witnessed." The statement issued by the group described its formation as "a natural and legitimate response" to the challenges Syria has faced, including attempts at division and displacement. The organization’s logo closely resembles those used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah, featuring a raised hand holding a rifle.

The group’s statement further emphasized its aim to represent all sects within Syria, focusing on "defending security and territorial integrity." It also noted that the group was formed due to the "absence of the political and social forces that previously managed Syria," a reference to the destabilization of the Assad regime after the rebel offensive in December. The statement declared the group's goal to "defend Syria from occupation and unite against falsehood."

This move follows reports from early February by Al-Akhbar, a Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper, detailing the formation of "The Syrian Resistance," a group claiming to operate against both Israel and the Islamist government forces in Damascus. This group, reportedly led by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has also referred to these forces as "the gangs of al-Jolani," alluding to the name of Syria's interim president, a former senior al-Qaeda member.

The collapse of the Assad regime and the rise of rebel forces have significantly weakened Iran’s influence in Syria. Iranian-backed Shiite militias composed of Afghans and Pakistanis have fled to Iraq, and Hezbollah in Lebanon has withdrawn its forces, focusing now on smuggling out its remaining weapons. Despite this, cells affiliated with the former regime still engage in occasional clashes with the new government in Damascus. Recently, Syria's new government has expressed concerns about Iran's interference, urging the country to refrain from meddling in its internal affairs.

At the Arab League summit in Cairo on Tuesday, al-Sharaa declared that Syria was turning a new page with Arab states, while also accusing Israel of exploiting the collapse of the previous regime to its advantage.