Iran Can Reconfigure Its Foothold in Post-Assad Syria

Iran Can Reconfigure Its Foothold in Post-Assad Syria

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Iran initially denied the presence of its forces on Syrian soil, despite evidence to the contrary. Later, Tehran was forced to confirm its involvement but branded it under the banner of “Modafean-e Haram”  (defenders of the shrine), claiming to protect the Shi’a holy site of Sayyida Zaynab’s shrine in Damascus. Yet Iran’s deep entrenchment in Syria was far beyond religious symbolism; it was a s…