Iran has pulled out nearly all of its forces from Syria following the rebels’ victory against the Assad regime, dealing a major blow to Tehran’s influence in the region, officials said. Iranian forces,

Assad Flees, Israel Exploits, New Power Vacuum Emerges The End of an Era? Assad's Fall Triggers Regional Power Shift Syria Descends into Chaos: Putin and Iran Abandon Assad, Israel Exploits Vacuum The

The withdrawal marks the demise of a yearslong effort in which Tehran used Syria as a hub in its regional strategy to spread influence and wage proxy war against the U.S. and Israel.

The Syrian shrine of Sayedah Zainab drew Iran-backed militiamen from throughout the region. With Assad's fall, they've fled, raising questions about the future of the area — and of the axis.

Israel blew up an Iran sponsored Syrian missile factory after its elite commandos raided it last September. The missiles posed an existential threat to Israel amid its war against Tehran's proxies.

Iran's military power and influence has been badly weakened and clashes with Israel and the fall of Bashar Assad in Syria have left it reeling.

The move echoes both Egypt, which is in the process of building a new capital city, and the lightning fall of Damascus in Syria.

An Assad official claims Putin betrayed his ally by promising support that never came.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday called for the withdrawal of Israel from Syrian territory following the fall of long-time Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad.

Iran is reeling from a cratering economy and stinging military setbacks across its sphere of influence in the Middle East. Its bad times are likely to get worse once President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House with his policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran.

Saudi Arabia and others are overlooking the new leadership’s jihadist past, hoping to gain an advantage on rivals in the strategically positioned country.