THE SHIA AXIS STRATEGY HAS BEEN DESTROYED

THE SHIA AXIS STRATEGY HAS BEEN DESTROYED

The mullah regime that dominated the administration in Iran after 1979 developed a geopolitical strategy called the “Shia Crescent” based on a sectarian sphere of influence extending to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, and focused all its attention on this point.

The backbone of this structure was formed by the Quds Force, affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. In the countries it targeted and was able to create space for itself, the Quds Force provided training, weapons and logistical support to the groups it cooperated with, and also participated in the conflicts and carried out many massacres.

The Assad-Iran Alliance

The civil war in Syria that began in 2011 provided Iran with a great advantage. Iran’s “Shia Crescent” strategy made a great contribution to the Assad regime in Syria continuing its power by relying on the minority Alawite population.

The Assad regime was also the biggest supporter of this policy of Iran. The Syrian civil war that began in 2011 led to the “Shia Crescent” becoming even stronger. Indeed, Iran and Hezbollah, which it controls, sent military forces to Syria to support the Bashar Assad regime.

Hundreds of Thousands of Oppressed Were Massacred

The Quds Force led by Qasem Soleimani, the fighting force of the Shia Crescent, and Hezbollah militants, in addition to massacring hundreds of thousands of Sunni Muslims, including children, women, men, young and old, became the greatest accomplices of the cruel and torturing Assad regime.

Sectarian Policy Collapsed

However, in the process that began with Israel’s attack on Gaza, Hezbollah, which was supported by Iran, suffered a heavy blow and the pro-Iranian forces in Syria were neutralized, leading to the disintegration of the mullah strategy. Finally, with the fall of Damascus on December 8, Iran’s “Shia Axis” fell apart.

As a result of these developments, Iran, which has panicked greatly, has taken action to ensure that chaos once again occurs in Syria and that the region once again becomes a bloodbath. In other words, Iran has begun to seek ways to cause discord in Syria.

Iran Wants Civil War Again in Syria

Accordingly, the following sentences in the speech made by Iran’s religious leader Khamenei clearly reveal Iran’s future policies; Khamenei says; “What is happening in Syria was basically planned in the command rooms of the US and Israel. A state that borders Syria (referring to Turkey) has also joined. I foresee an honorable power emerging in Syria. Syrian youth have nothing to lose; schools, homes, streets, lives are unsafe. They need to stand resolutely against those who planned this insecurity, and with God’s permission, they will defeat them too. Hezbollah was born out of the civil war in Lebanon. The same may happen in Syria. The present and future of the resistance will be like this.” These words are the greatest proof that Iran will resort to discord again in order to revive the Shiite axis, and that it has even started discord.

After Khamenei, the statements of Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezai, a member of the Iranian Security Council, encouraging certain groups in Syria to revolt, have further exposed the chaos plan that has been put into effect.

It is Time to Unite

Iran’s religious leader Khamenei has targeted Turkey, along with the US and Israel, without naming them, for the developments in Syria. In this case, no matter what our political views are, we as a nation must support our state’s Syria policy and fight against terrorism in unity and solidarity. Our strong unity is our greatest strength against any plan and strategy targeting our country.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Eğilmez, Faculty Member of the History Department, Faculty of Letters, Atatürk University