Iran supreme leader Khamenei finally breaks silence over toppling of Syria’s Assad, makes stunning claim, blames US and…

Turkey, a member of US-led NATO, has strongly supported anti-Assad rebel opposition groups since the Syria civil war broke out in 2011. Ayatollah Khamenei said one of "Syria's neighbours" also played a role in the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, referring to open support given to rebel forces by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Syria civil war: In his first comments since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Wednesday asserted that the fall of the Syrian President was the result of a well-planned effort by the United States and Israel, and a “neighbouring country of Syria”, in a subtle hint at Turkey’s involvement in toppling Assad.

“What happened in Syria was mainly planned in the command rooms of America and Israel. We have evidence of this. A neighbouring government of Syria was also involved,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in speech, according to the Iranian state media.

‘Syria’s neighbour also involved’

Without directly naming Turkey, Khamenei said that one of Syria’s neighbours also played a role in the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, referring to open support given to rebel forces by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The neighbour had a “clear role and continues to do so,” he said.

Turkey, a member of US-led NATO military alliance, controls large swathes of land in northern Syria after several cross-border incursions against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, has strongly supported anti-Assad rebel opposition groups since the Syria civil war broke out in 2011.

Iran and Russia were the two main allies of Bashar al-Assad, the former President who was overthrown and forced to flee the country after rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, captured Damascus on early Sunday. Experts say Iran had spent billions of dollars propping up Assad during the war and deployed its Revolutionary Guards to Syria to keep its ally in power.

The fall of Assad is widely seen as a major blow to the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance” political and military alliance that opposes Israeli and U.S. influence in the Middle East.

‘Iran will grow stronger’

Hours after Assad’s fall, Iran said it expected relations with Damascus to continue based on the two countries’ “far-sighted and wise approach” and called for the establishment of an inclusive government representing all segments of Syrian society.

In his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei also said the Iran-led alliance would gain in strength across the entire region.

“The more pressure you exert, the stronger the resistance becomes. The more crimes you commit, the more determined it becomes. The more you fight against it, the more it expands Khamenei said. “Iran is strong and powerful—and will become even stronger,” added.