Iran Expands 'Shadow Empire' as U.S. Begins Iraq, Syria Drawdown
Iran has deepened its military, political and social footprint across Iraq and Syria—building integrated command structures, tunnels and weapons depots—at the same time the U.S. confirmed this week it will begin reducing troop levels in Iraq and has drawn down forces in Syria, a shift analysts warn could create power vacuums that Tehran may exploit. The reporting cites an investigative Middle East Forum report (documenting Iranian entrenchment since 2018), a quote from Gregg Roman on Iran‑Syria ties, and notes the December 2024 collapse of the Assad regime area to Hay'at Tahrir al‑Sham as a recent development altering the balance of power.
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🔍 Key Facts
- U.S. has confirmed this week it will begin reducing troop levels in Iraq under a recently reached agreement (article timeframe: 'this week').
- A Middle East Forum investigation documents Iran building underground tunnels, weapons depots and an integrated command across Syria since 2018, embedding IRGC-linked proxy forces into civilian programs.
- Report cites December 2024 takeover dynamics in Syria (Hay'at Tahrir al‑Sham) and quotes Gregg Roman warning Iran could exploit fragmented governance to expand its influence.