The fall of Bashar al-Assad of Syria was the culmination of a remarkably bad year for the Iranian government.
The Islamic Republic has faced major challenges in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, reducing the strength of the so-called Axis of Resistance. Its currency officially became the lowest in the world and when Israel ended its holding power, the US elected a president Iran despised so much that it spent years trying to kill him.
Here is a look back at the contributions of Ayatollah Ali Khameini and his regime over the past year:
The fall of Bashar al-Assad of Syria was the culmination of a remarkably bad year for the Iranian government. (Office of Iran’s Supreme Leader via AP, File)
April: counterattacks in Israel fail to cause damage
In April, Israel bombed Iran’s embassy in Syria, prompting Iran to retaliate with more than 300 drones and missiles aimed at Israel. But Israel has worked with the US, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to shoot down almost all missiles and drones.
May: the president dies in a helicopter crash
Iran’s late president Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash while visiting a remote area. Iran blamed the crash on dense fog. Raisi was a follower and potential successor to Iran’s supreme leader, Khameini.
July: Top Hamas leader released
When Iran installed a new president this summer, Israel swooped in to remove Hamas commander Ismail Haniyeh while he was visiting Tehran for the inauguration. While Haniyeh was staying at the government VIP guest house, Israel detonated a remote-controlled bomb.
TRUMP CONTACTS WRITER ABOUT IRAN’S PRE-EMPIT STRUCTURE: ‘IS THAT THE QUESTION?’
October: The head of Hamas and the architect of the 7 October attack was killed
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released the head of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, after encountering him roaming the Gaza city of Rafah. Sinwar was the mastermind behind the Oct. 7, 2023, in Israel and was one of the most wanted men in the war.
Hamas has lost thousands of fighters and much of its leadership to the Israeli offensive and is nowhere near the military threat on Israel’s borders that Iran hopes it can be.
The IDF released Hamas head Yahya Sinwar after meeting him at a checkpoint in the Gaza city of Rafah. (AP)
November: Trump is elected
Iran’s currency fell sharply on the news of Trump’s election, and the expectation that he might bring back the “high pressure” policy.
The Iranian Riyal has depreciated by 46% this year, making it the world’s cheapest legal tender.
Iran has long vowed to take revenge for Trump authorizing the assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2019 – and US intelligence revealed Tehran’s plans to assassinate the president-elect.
After the The Trump administration it pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, imposing tough sanctions on the government to end its funding of international proxies, prohibiting American citizens from doing business with Iran or holding Iranian currency.
It also penalized foreign businesses doing business with Iran, by cutting them off from the dollar.
MEETING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY OVER SYRIA: ‘IT’S TIME TO GIVE’
President Joe Biden has often backed off from enforcing such sanctions, willing to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons and fearing a rise in global oil prices.
Iran’s currency fell sharply on the news of Trump’s election, and the expectation that he might bring back the “high pressure” policy. (AP Photos)
Iran gained access to more than $10 billion in Department of State sanctions relief that allowed Iraq to continue buying energy from Iran, which the Biden administration says is necessary to keep the lights on in Baghdad.
November: Hezbollah signs an end to hostilities with Israel
In the fall, Israel refocused most of its efforts on hitting Hezbollah after a series of cross-border attacks from the Lebanese militant group. Israel targeted Hezbollah’s leadership and blew up hundreds of pagers the group had been using to communicate. In late November, Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in which it and Israel must end their armed presence in southern Lebanon.
Both sides say the other violated the fragile agreement, but it’s been a few weeks.
December: Assad falls
Syrian rebels have sent Iran’s Quds Force, an extension of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, on the run as they seize Damascus and oust President Bashar al-Assad. Iranian troops have been in Syria supporting Assad since civil war broke out in 2011, but have been reduced since fighting broke out elsewhere in the Middle East.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The new Syrian government will be run by Sunni Muslims, who oppose the Shiite government of Iran. And Iran lost an important supply line through Syria that it had used to arm Hezbollah in its fight against Israel.
Source link
