Iran's Khamenei claims Syrian youth will resist post-Assad govt: Is he right?

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday (December 22) that young Syrians will resist a new government emerging after the ouster of President Bashar Assad, accusing the United States and Israel of creating instability in Syria.

Iran has been a staunch ally of Assad during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, which began with a violent crackdown on protests against his family’s decades-long rule. Syria has also served as a vital corridor for Iranian support to Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group.

In a speech, Khamenei said young Syrians feel they have “nothing to lose” and are plagued by insecurity in the wake of Assad’s removal.

“What can they do? They should stand with strong will against those who designed and those who implemented the insecurity,” he said. “God willing, they will overcome them.”

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Khamenei also accused the US and Israel of orchestrating chaos in Syria to exploit its resources.

Is Khamenei right?

The widespread celebrations following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime suggest that a significant portion of the Syrian population, including its youth, welcomed the change. Reports indicate that Syrians across various cities, such as Damascus and Homs, took to the streets in jubilation, chanting slogans of freedom and dismantling symbols of the Assad family’s rule.

According to UNICEF, young people constitute approximately one-third of Syria’s population. Given that, it’s reasonable to infer that they played a substantial role in these demonstrations. Their active participation in the celebrations would hint to a collective sentiment of relief and optimism for the future.

Moreover, the US and Israel had limited direct involvement in Syria compared to other actors like Russia and Iran prior to the fall of Assad.

Khamenei’s remarks may be rooted in the fact that Iran and its allied groups in the region have faced significant setbacks over the past year, including heavy losses inflicted by Israel on Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon before a ceasefire was reached last month.

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With inputs from agencies