Iran May Be Playing Both Sides in Syria
As odd as that may sound, think about it. When the Syrian uprising began last March, 2011, it was peaceful. As time has gone on, Syria is now at near civil war between those who have defected, the Free Syrian Army, outsiders of nebulous design, and Syria's military trying to preserve President's Assad regime. Outsiders are al Qaeda, Hezbollah (pro-Iran) and Iran,itself, who has been providing expertise, money and weapons to help Assad whether the storm.
Syria is important to Iran because of its location and Hezbollah in Lebanon. But, what if, the Iranian regime has decided to play both sides: provide Syria with aid as usual but secretly trying to topple the regime politically or by force with small cells of terrorists who appear as Arabs. This would be quite easy. No different than having a silent cell become active in the US to conduct terrorist activities to disrupt etc. Iran may be perceiving that Assad's regime will fall and wants to be in place to dominate the area by force against the untrained and poorly armed Free Syrian Army. Maybe Iran's support is waning now in in hopes of obtaining the bigger prize-Syria, itself, instead of being just in the same bed with them. This would make their expansion much greater and fully in their control.
The vacuum in Syria presumes that the Free Syria forces would assume control, yet, these factions have little in common but for to get rid of Assad. Syria has two main tribes that basically hate one another like in Iraq. Iran may have had already infiltrated them and steering them to an Iranian position without them knowing it or have already reached agreements with some to invite the Iranians in once they get control.
Syria is in no position now to really threaten or challenge Iranian influences even if it is apparent to them and as time moves on, they will be less in a position unless things reverse. Iran could have a terrorist group assassinate Assad to create more turmoil within Syria's military force.
My guess is that Iran sees this situation as a great opportunity to increase their own influence.
