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According to Syrian and Iranian state media, Ebrahim Raisi was received by ruler Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Wednesday. The two countries maintain good relations, especially in the field of military cooperation.
The head of government arrived accompanied by several ministers of state. Before Raisi, hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Syria in 2010.
Iran has expanded its political and military ties to the region since the 1990s to create an “axis of resistance” against its arch-enemy Israel, with the support of Shia militias.
In Syria, the Islamic Republic supports Assad, who also traveled to Tehran last year. Since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011, the Syrian president has faced international criticism and has been in isolation for a long time.
For years, the Islamic Republic and Israel have been waging a shadow war in the region, which experts say has intensified in recent months. The Israeli air force repeatedly strikes targets in neighboring Syria to halt the build-up of militias linked to Iran. It was not until Tuesday evening that Aleppo airport was bombed again.
Shortly before his trip, Raisi renewed his threats against Israel in an interview with Lebanese television channel Al-Majadin. “The first mistake and step Zionist unity makes will be the last, and there will be no more such thing as Zionist unity,” Raisi said, adding, “Syria has always been at the forefront of the Axis of Resistance.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the trip.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian traveled to southern Lebanon, right on the border with the archenemy. Israel “only understands the language of violence,” the minister said in an interview. Iranian politicians rarely come this close to the border. Tehran also wields great influence in Lebanon with the support of the powerful Shiite organization Hezbollah.
Raisi’s visit follows Syria’s rapprochement with several neighboring countries and former rivals in the region in recent months. On Monday, the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iraq met with their Syrian counterpart Faisal al-Mikdad. A possible return of Syria to the Arab League has been much discussed.
In March 2011, countless people in Syria took to the streets against Assad’s leadership in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings. The security forces used violence against the demonstrators. This resulted in a civil war with international participation, which continues to this day. In addition to Iran, Russia also supports Assad’s regime.
(SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
