DAMASCUS, SYRIA—In a notable development reflecting shifting regional dynamics, the Sayyida Zeinab shrine near Damascus—a centerpiece of Iranian presence in Syria for over a decade—no longer flies the Iranian flag. The shrine, revered by Shiite Muslims and a key pilgrimage destination for millions of Iranians, had come to symbolize Tehran’s expanding influence across the Levant during and after the Syrian civil war.
For years, the mausoleum of Sayyida Zeinab, granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, has held profound religious significance for the Shiite community. Tehran capitalized on this sentiment, using the site as both a spiritual focal point and a staging ground for its military and political activities in Syria. Particularly since 2011, the shrine became a strategic hub for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its militia proxies, forming a central pillar in sustaining the Assad regime and anchoring Iran’s vision of a contiguous Shiite axis stretching from Tehran to Beirut.
The lowering of the Iranian flag marks a subtle, yet powerful, alteration of this status quo. Syrian authorities, facing increasing regional and international pressure, appear intent on asserting greater sovereignty over high-profile religious sites and recalibrating their relationships with foreign actors. The decision follows sustained Israeli military action against IRGC positions and logistical corridors in Syria, as well as evolving Russian policy in the region. Moscow, once content to share space with Iran as co-backers of Assad, has grown wary of Tehran’s enduring footprint and the risk of broader confrontation with Israel and other regional players.
The Iranian regime, led by the Supreme Leader and the IRGC, has long argued that its intervention in Syria is a self-declared mission to defend Shiite holy places against Sunni extremists—a message broadcast to both domestic and international audiences. However, Israeli officials and Western analysts alike have consistently noted that Iranian forces have leveraged these pretexts to arm proxies, coordinate military logistics, and threaten Israel’s northern front. The physical presence of IRGC and Hezbollah operatives at the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, often shielded by the flag of the Islamic Republic, was a constant reminder of these tensions.
Over the years, Israel has adopted a policy of preemptive defense, targeting Iranian and proxy installations across Syria through a series of precise, intelligence-driven strikes. These operations, part of what is termed the “war between the wars,” seek to disrupt weapons smuggling to Hezbollah, limit Iran’s entrenchment, and uphold acute deterrence. While many such operations have been concentrated in Syria’s south and near Damascus, areas around the Sayyida Zeinab district have also witnessed significant activity, reflecting the shrine’s dual role as a spiritual and military outpost.
The removal of the Iranian flag is understood by regional analysts as an effort by Syrian authorities to avoid further escalation, preserve regime stability, and reassure both Russian and Arab interlocutors of the regime’s autonomy. The move also comes against a complex backdrop: the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre—coordinated with and inspired by similar Iranian terror infrastructure—has redoubled Israeli and Western scrutiny of Tehran’s regional activities. As Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, continues to enforce red lines and pursue security along its borders, any overt sign of Iranian power in Syria carries significant risk.
For local residents and millions of visitors over the years, the Sayyida Zeinab shrine retains its spiritual importance. Yet, the political symbolism of the removed flag is unmistakable. It signals that the Assad regime, while still heavily indebted to Iranian support, recognizes the costs of overt foreign entrenchment in a conflict-weary society and a changing Middle East, where Arab states and global powers are recalibrating their relationships and security postures.
Despite the optics, Tehran’s military and intelligence apparatus remains formidable in Syria. The IRGC and its proxies continue to operate across vital corridors from Iraq into the Levant, leveraging a network of Shiite militias and logistical hubs. Israel’s intelligence community assesses that this tactical adjustment—reducing visible signs of Iranian control—does not equate to the withdrawal of actual capabilities. Rather, it is likely an adaptation, a move toward a quieter military footprint as regional stakeholders, including Russia and the Gulf states, press for greater Syrian independence.
The ripple effects of the change extend far beyond the shrine’s blue-tiled dome. In a region shaped by cycles of war and shifting alliances, symbols matter. For Israel, the removal of the Iranian flag at Sayyida Zeinab does not diminish the ongoing imperative to counter Iranian entrenchment and the wider threat posed by IRGC-backed actors—evident from Gaza to Lebanon and throughout Syria. For the United States and its partners, including new Arab-Israeli alliances forged under the Abraham Accords, the Syria file remains a volatile flashpoint, one that will test commitments to both stability and the fight against Iranian aggression.
As Syria attempts to rehabilitate its sovereignty and the region braces for continued uncertainty, the episode at Sayyida Zeinab encapsulates the delicate balance of power, faith, and geopolitics at play. It offers a glimpse of modest recalibration, but also a warning: The battle for Syria—between state actors, proxies, and regional rivals—is far from over. The struggle for control over symbolic and strategic sites such as Sayyida Zeinab reveals the enduring complexity of a region where the visible and the invisible intertwine, and where each gesture carries far-reaching consequences for peace, security, and the future of the Middle East.
