2 days ago 28 Section Six: Untold Stories and Behind-the-Scenes Documents (Part Four)

 Political Section

3. Political and Diplomatic Role

In addition to his military role, General Soleimani was also active in behind-the-scenes diplomacy in Syria.

He acted as Iran’s main liaison with the Assad government and played a role in sensitive negotiations with Syrian officials and other regional actors. One of the most prominent examples was Bashar al-Assad’s secret trip to Tehran in 2019, which was carried out without the knowledge of Mohammad Javad Zarif, then Iran’s Foreign Minister. This action, which led to Zarif’s temporary resignation, demonstrated the unparalleled influence of Martyr Soleimani in Iran’s foreign policy and its relations with Syria.

General Soleimani also played a role in managing relations with various political and military groups in Syria. He cooperated with Kurdish groups in northern Syria, especially in the fight against ISIS, while maintaining close relations with the Syrian army and Russian-backed forces. This ability to manage relations with diverse groups — sometimes with conflicting interests — was one of Soleimani’s strengths.

4. Untold Scenes and Secret Activities

Many of Martyr Soleimani’s activities in Syria were never fully revealed in the media. For example, there are reports of his presence in night operations against ISIS positions in eastern Syria, which were never officially confirmed. Also, some sources have claimed that General Soleimani played a role in transferring advanced weapons — including ballistic missiles — to Hezbollah through Syrian territory. These operations, which were kept secret due to political and military sensitivities, showed the depth of Quds Force activities in the region.

Another of the untold scenes was General Soleimani’s role in managing internal crises within the Syrian army. In the early years of the war, the Syrian army faced organizational problems and cases of desertion. General Soleimani, by sending Iranian military advisers and training Syrian forces, helped rebuild and strengthen Assad’s army. These actions, mostly carried out in the shadows, helped preserve the cohesion of the Syrian army under severe pressure.

5. Challenges and Criticisms

The presence and role of Martyr Qasem Soleimani in Syria — contrary to the biased narratives of some Western and Arab sources — were based on the official invitation of the legitimate Syrian government and within the framework of lawful regional cooperation. Reports accusing him of “violating international law” or “illegally transferring weapons” are part of the psychological operations of the Western–Zionist front, aimed at covering up their own role in arming terrorist groups and fragmenting Syria.

What enemy media called the “Siege of Aleppo” was in fact the liberation of this city from the occupation of Takfiri militants, who for years had taken civilians hostage and cut off aid routes. The military tactics employed were designed to cause the least harm to civilians and the greatest pressure on terrorist groups. The presence of resistance-aligned forces in residential areas was not to create tension, but to protect civilians against suicide and rocket attacks by extremist groups.

The accusation of “fueling sectarian conflicts” by the supporters of America’s war-mongering and some Arab regimes was an attempt to hide the truth: that Soleimani, by breaking sieges and organizing popular forces, prevented the fall of Damascus and the partition of Syria. Without this support, ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra would have set not only Damascus but also vast parts of Iraq and Lebanon on fire.

Within this framework, the role of the beloved commander, Martyr Qasem Soleimani, in Syria was a combination of unmatched military leadership, hidden field diplomacy, and long-term strategic management. Through the precise organization of popular forces and resistance fighters, operational coordination with allies such as Russia, and strengthening the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance, he managed to shift the balance of the battlefield in favor of the Resistance Front. His presence not only saved the legitimate Syrian government from certain collapse but also dealt a severe blow to ISIS and other Takfiri groups.

Behind the scenes, his secret meetings with political leaders and field commanders, along with his repeated presence on the front lines, portrayed a figure who, beyond being a military commander, acted as an architect of regional security. The criticisms and controversies raised by Western media and their affiliates were, more than reflecting reality, an unintentional acknowledgment of his profound impact on thwarting U.S. and allied plans in the region — an influence still clearly visible in Syria and across the Axis of Resistance, years after his martyrdom.