By Al-Fassel | 2026-07-14

The Iranian regime's role in Syria's civil war ranks among the conflict's most consequential foreign involvements.

Beginning in 2011, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deployed thousands of personnel to prop up Bashar al-Assad's regime.

It also organized Shia militias recruited from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to reinforce the front lines.

The Iranian regime channeled tens of billions of dollars in financial aid to Damascus over the following decade.

Extending a conflict that might otherwise have ended sooner, at enormous human cost to the region.

Millions of Syrians fled the resulting violence, seeking safety in neighboring countries across the region.

Lebanon, bound to Syria by geography and decades of intertwined history, absorbed a disproportionate share of the displaced.

Overlapping crises

According to recent data, Lebanon hosts roughly 1.5 million Syrian refugees, making it the world's largest refugee population per capita.

The influx has placed additional pressure on a country already struggling with a severe and prolonged economic collapse.

UNHCR data shows that nine in ten Syrian refugee households in Lebanon live in extreme poverty.

Food insecurity remains widespread, while public schools and hospitals face overwhelming demand and limited resources.

Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees increasingly compete for scarce medicine, healthcare workers and classroom space.

Years of Iranian-backed conflict in Syria helped create the conditions that fueled this ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Lebanon's sovereignty challenge

Beyond Syria, the Iranian regime's continued support for Hizbullah has deepened insecurity among Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees alike.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in March 2026 that the IRGC directs Hizbullah's military operations and activities.

He also accused IRGC personnel of entering Lebanon illegally using forged travel documents, raising concerns about foreign interference.

Lebanon's government later expelled Iran's ambassador, citing continued interference in the country's internal affairs and sovereignty.

President Joseph Aoun has accused Hizbullah of pulling Lebanon into conflicts on behalf of the Iranian regime.

He warned that Lebanon was "cornered" between external pressures and the growing threat of internal collapse.

A May 2026 survey by Information International found broad support among Lebanese citizens for Hizbullah's complete disarmament.

The survey also showed increased support across Lebanese communities for pursuing a lasting peace agreement with Israel.

The findings highlight a growing divide between many Lebanese citizens and an armed group backed by the Iranian regime.

Many now blame Hizbullah and its Iranian patrons for repeated cycles of conflict that have devastated communities.

For millions of Syrians and Lebanese, the Iranian regime's regional strategy has brought years of displacement, instability and pain.