Iran鈥檚 supreme leader says Syrian youth will resist incoming government

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in an address on Sunday that the 鈥測oung Syrian has nothing to lose鈥� and suffers from insecurity following Assad鈥檚 fall. (Khamenei.ir/AFP)
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  • Iran had provided crucial support to Assad throughout Syria鈥檚 nearly 14-year civil war
  • Iran鈥檚 supreme leader accused the United States and Israel of plotting against Assad鈥檚 government

TEHRAN: Iran鈥檚 supreme leader on Sunday said that young Syrians will resist the new government emerging after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad as he again accused the United States and Israel of sowing chaos in the country.
Iran had provided crucial support to Assad throughout Syria鈥檚 nearly 14-year civil war, which erupted after he launched a violent crackdown on a popular uprising against his family鈥檚 decades-long rule. Syria had long served as a key conduit for Iranian aid to Lebanon鈥檚 militant Hezbollah.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in an address on Sunday that the 鈥測oung Syrian has nothing to lose鈥� and suffers from insecurity following Assad鈥檚 fall.
鈥淲hat can he do? He should stand with strong will against those who designed and those who implemented the insecurity,鈥� Khamenei said. 鈥淕od willing, he will overcome them.鈥�
He accused the United States and Israel of plotting against Assad鈥檚 government in order to seize resources, saying: 鈥淣ow they feel victory, the Americans, the Zionist regime and those who accompanied them.鈥�
Iran and its militant allies in the region have suffered a series of major setbacks over the past year, with Israel battering Hamas in Gaza and landing heavy blows on Hezbollah before they agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon last month.
Khamenei denied that such groups were proxies of Iran, saying they fought because of their own beliefs and that the Islamic Republic did not depend on them. 鈥淚f one day we plan to take action, we do not need proxy force,鈥� he said.