Syria’s Role in Iran’s Forward Defense Doctrine

Abstract

This article seeks to examine Syria’s role in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s military doctrine, especially in the  realisation of the forward defence doctrine. After a brief historical overview of the Iranian-Syrian alliance, the article  presents the organizational structure and military doctrine  of the Iranian armed forces, emphasizing the importance of forward defence. Finally, the article determines the scope of Syria’s role in the implementation of the forward defence  doctrine through an examination of Iran’s military  involvement in Syria. The article concludes that Iran will  face a number of challenges maintaining its expanded  Syrian military presence that is critical to the effective implementation of the forward defence doctrine. For this  reason, Iran must work to deepen the military and  economic relationship between the two countries in a way  that goes beyond Assad himself.