Bashar al-Assad's first comment on Iran's missiles towards Israel
During his reception of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi
In his first comment on Iran's missiles towards Israel, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said today, Saturday, that the Iranian attack on Israel was "strong and taught it a lesson," after Tehran launched about 200 missiles at Israel during the past week, in response to the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
Assad said during his reception of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Damascus that "the Iranian response to the repeated violations and attacks by the Israeli entity on the peoples of the region and the sovereignty of its countries was a strong response, and it gave a lesson that the axis of resistance is capable of deterring the enemy" and will remain strong and steadfast.
Ceasefire
Araghchi met today, Saturday, in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh.
He stressed, shortly after his arrival in the Syrian capital, the importance of reaching a simultaneous ceasefire in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Araghchi told reporters, "The most important issue today is the ceasefire, especially in Lebanon and Gaza," adding, "There are initiatives in this regard, and there were consultations that we hope will be successful."
This is Araghchi's first visit to Damascus since assuming his position, and comes in the context of a major escalation between Iran and the groups it supports on the one hand and Israel on the other.
Difference of Viewpoints
Over the past few months, Syrian analysts hosted by local media outlets have spoken about "Differences in views" between Iran and Syria on several issues, most notably Tehran's limited support for Damascus in the economic aspect and the energy and fuel sector, amid a chronic economic crisis in the country.
The divergence in views also extends, according to analysts, to Iran's military presence, after reports that it has reduced its forces under the pressure of Israeli raids that targeted its sites and Iranian leaders since the beginning of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement in Gaza.
Israel's bombing of Iranian targets
The most prominent strikes attributed to Israel were the targeting of a building attached to the Iranian embassy in Damascus in April, which resulted in the killing of seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes against Syrian government forces, Iranian targets, and others belonging to its ally Hezbollah.
It rarely confirms carrying out the strikes, but it repeatedly says that it will confront what it describes as Iran's attempts to consolidate its military presence in Syria.
