Iran Moves to Cement Its Influence in Syria by Raja Abdulrahim and Benoit Faucon – Wall Street Journal
In Islamic State’s former eastern Syrian stronghold, the Islamic Republic of Iran is parlaying its military and economic might into a lasting foothold.
On the heels of an Iranian military intervention that has helped bring President Bashar al-Assad to the edge of victory in Syria’s eight-year-long war, Tehran is moving to cement its long-term influence in Syria by cultivating goodwill and winning converts to the Shiite Muslim sect.
To Syrians battered by war, Iran is offering cash, food, Iranian ID cards, public services and free education.
“The goal is to re-create the Persian empire,” said Muneer al-Khalaf, a member of the City Council of Raqqa, Islamic State’s once de facto capital.
Iran’s hearts-and-minds campaign undermines efforts by the U.S., Israel and Arab states to roll back Tehran’s influence and force it out of Syria. It also comes as President Trump plans to shrink the U.S. military footprint in the country—currently more than 2,000 troops—after the battle to eliminate Islamic State-held territory was declared over on Saturday…