Iran Reinforces Support for Assad Amid Rising Rebel Threats in Syria

Iran is increasingly concerned about the situation in Syria, where the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has launched a significant offensive in Aleppo, challenging President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Iran, a key ally of Assad, has sent militias to support the Syrian army, highlighting the strategic importance of Syria to Iran's regional influence. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized extremist Sunni groups for diverting attention from the Palestinian cause, emphasizing the need to maintain Assad's power to preserve Iran's influence in the Middle East.