In the past, Sayedah Zainab, a small town six miles south of Damascus, was the epicentre of Iran’s Axis of Resistance. Known for its gold-domed shrine where Shiite Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad’s granddaughter rests, the area once became a strategic base for Iran and its allied militias in their fight against American and Israeli influence in the region.
However, today, Sayedah Zainab grapples with its shifting identity. No longer a haven for foreign militias, the town is left reflecting on the legacy of the Iran-backed forces that once defined its landscape. As Syria’s conflict unfolds, the town is left to contend with both its past involvement and an uncertain future.
A Town Transformed: Iran’s Influence in Sayedah Zainab
For years, Sayedah Zainab was more than just a religious site; it was the headquarters for Iran’s Axis of Resistance — a loose network of Iran-backed militant groups aimed at countering the influence of the United States and Israel in the Middle East.
The shrine, originally a pilgrimage site, became the rallying point for thousands of Shiite militiamen from all over the region. They came from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and even countries as far as Pakistan and Afghanistan, fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces against the Syrian opposition. The militias’ arrival turned the once peaceful town into a military zone, with fortified positions, checkpoints, and foreign fighters enforcing their presence.
Mohammad Al-Hahi, a resident of the town, recalls how the influx of militias turned Sayedah Zainab into the political capital of the Axis of Resistance. “They flew in from all over the world and assembled here,” he said. “Then they would deploy to fight across Syria.”
The End of an Era: Iran’s Influence Fades
Last month, the town’s history took an abrupt turn. Following the fall of Assad’s regime and the rise of Sunni rebels, the militias that once controlled Sayedah Zainab retreated. Residents, long accustomed to the constant presence of armed groups, are now left to reckon with the remnants of Iran’s influence.
Khaled Darwish, a local shopkeeper, is one of the many who view this shift as a liberating moment. The foreign militias, according to Darwish, had turned the town into an Iran-led occupation, barricading streets with concrete and heavily armed forces. “You couldn’t go anywhere without one of those groups bugging you,” he said. “This town wasn’t for us, it was for them.”
In the absence of these militias, the town has slowly started to return to normal. But the residents’ feelings are mixed. For some, there is relief from the overbearing presence of militias; for others, there is uncertainty about what comes next. The new Syrian rebel authorities, once feared for their potential brutality, have so far treated the residents with a surprising degree of courtesy, even announcing on loudspeakers that residents could continue visiting the shrine without harassment.
The Struggle for a New Identity: From Militia Stronghold to Local Community
Sayedah Zainab’s residents are left navigating a delicate balance. On the one hand, there is a sense of loss. With the militias gone, the town must now confront the trauma left by years of occupation and violence. Buildings that were once headquarters for Hezbollah, Fatemiyoon, and other factions, are now vacant or repurposed. For example, Al-Hahi, who once had his hotel commandeered by the Iran-backed Abu Fadhl Al-Abbass Brigade, now finds his property in disarray, filled with crates of weapons and abandoned supplies.
Yet, there is also hope. For the first time in years, Al-Hahi has access to his property again. But the ongoing threat of looters has forced him to lock down the building for protection. The remnants of the militias are still visible throughout the town: posters of Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, are plastered on lampposts, while abandoned vehicles with military gear remain stationed at street corners.
The Challenges of a Post-Iran Era
The broader significance of Sayedah Zainab’s shift reflects the larger challenges facing the Axis of Resistance. Iran, already facing numerous setbacks from Hamas’s failed attack on Israel and the destruction of much of Hezbollah’s leadership, has seen its influence over Syria significantly diminish.
Once the only stable ally in the region, Syria served as a critical part of Iran’s supply lines to Hezbollah and its militant operations against Israel and the United States. Now, with Assad’s regime crumbling, and Iran’s foothold in Syria weakening, the Axis finds itself fighting an uphill battle.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains defiant, however. He has downplayed the impact of Assad’s fall, stating that the more pressure applied by external forces, the stronger the Axis would become. But the signs of Iran’s diminishing influence in Syria are hard to ignore.
What’s Next for Sayedah Zainab?
As the town begins to recover, residents are uncertain of what the future holds. Will the Sunni rebels who now control the town respect the Shiite community’s role, especially considering the religious significance of the shrine? Or will they become a source of continued tension in a region where alliances shift rapidly?
For now, life in Sayedah Zainab continues in a delicate peace. As Khaled Darwish, the local shopkeeper, points out: “It’s not the way it used to be, and it’s definitely not the way it should be. But we have to move forward.”
While the militias are gone, the scars of their presence remain — not just on the buildings, but on the people of Sayedah Zainab. They must now rebuild their community and rethink their future, all while navigating the complex geopolitical shifts that are taking place in Syria and beyond.
Relevant Links for Further Reading:
- Syria’s Role in Iran’s Axis of Resistance
- Impact of Hezbollah’s Losses in 2023
- The Syrian Conflict: Key Players and Shifting Alliances
Photo credit: AOL
