Iran’s embassy in Syria was “attacked” on Sunday, Iranian state TV stated, after Islamist-led rebels declared the autumn of Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad following a sweeping offensive that culminated in Damascus.
“Unknown people have attacked the Iranian embassy, as you may see in these photos shared by varied networks,” a state TV broadcaster stated, exhibiting footage from Al Arabiya, stated to be from the diplomatic compound.
Iranian newspaper Tehran Instances reported on-line that Iranian diplomats had left the embassy earlier than it was stormed, citing international ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
The report stated that each one embassy employees had been secure.
It additionally accused insurgent forces of being behind the assault, a declare that would not be independently verified instantly.
Authorities in Iran have but to touch upon Assad’s fall.
On Saturday, because the rebels pressed their lightning offensive however had not but taken Damascus, Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi referred to as on “the Syrian authorities and legit opposition teams” to enter negotiations.
His remarks marked a shift in Tehran’s tone in the direction of insurgent teams which Iran had beforehand referred to as “terrorists” and refused to recognise them as respectable actors.
Araghchi visited Damascus on December 1, days into the rebels’ offensive, assembly with Assad within the Syrian chief’s final public look alongside an Iranian official.
A day later, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran’s assist in a phone name with Assad.
The deposed Syrian chief final visited Iran in Could 2024, shortly after the dying of former president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Iran has supported Damascus throughout Syria’s civil conflict, which started in 2011, sending “navy advisers” at Assad’s request.
Quite a few Iranian Revolutionary Guards commanders have been killed in Syria, in fight and in Israeli strikes in opposition to presumed Iranian-linked targets.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)