Iran Accuses US and Israel of Coordinating Jihadist Offensive in Syria

Iran alleges that the United States and Israel are behind a coordinated jihadist offensive in Syria, intensifying geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated on Monday that the jihadist offensive in Syria was initiated with backing from the US and Israel. He remarked that it is not a coincidence that terrorists targeted northern Syria shortly after Israel reached a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, along with allied militias, initiated an attack on government-held areas in northern Syria last Wednesday. The jihadists captured several villages and towns across the provinces of Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama before entering the city of Aleppo on Friday.

The initial attack coincided with the commencement of a long-negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon. Earlier that week, West Jerusalem had begrudgingly consented to the truce; however, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “respond forcefully” if Hezbollah breached the agreement.

At a press briefing, Baghaei stated that the recent events in Syria occurring alongside the ceasefire in Lebanon and comments from American officials suggest some level of coordination and collaboration between terrorists, the US, and what he referred to as the Zionist regime.

The official implied that Washington and West Jerusalem were exploiting the attack to “undermine Syria” and “foster discord among Islamic nations.” Baghaei stated that the U.S. has a history of supporting militant groups in Syria, while Israel is “the primary beneficiary of events unfolding there.”

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The diplomat called on “all Islamic countries” to acknowledge the “threat posed by the Zionist regime” and unite in opposition against its actions.

The recent attack last week has effectively shattered the truce established in 2020 between the Syrian government and militants, a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Türkiye. Baghaei mentioned that Tehran is actively collaborating with regional powers to restore this agreement. He suggested that reviving it might be possible through the Astana Process, initiated in 2017 to address resolving Syria’s civil war while subsequently supporting its post-war rebuilding efforts under the leadership of Türkiye, Russia, and Iran.

He stated, “Everyone recognizes that the Astana Process has been the most stable and successful mechanism for crisis control in Syria in recent years. It remains active,” noting that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is currently visiting Türkiye to discuss ways to ease the current escalation.

In the past, Araghchi also accused the US and Israel of being behind the renewed terrorism in Syria, labeling last week’s attack as “an American-Zionist plot.” He implied that Washington and West Jerusalem are utilizing HTS as a proxy to undermine the Syrian government, which is an ally of Palestine.

The United States has consistently backed anti-Assad militias in Syria, among them HTS. In a 2021 interview, James Jeffrey, the former US special representative for Syria engagement, referred to the group as “an asset” to America’s strategy in Syria.