Iran's top ranking general in Syria has admitted that Iran suffered a major defeat in the country but would still try to operate there. In a candid speech, Brig. Gen. Behrouz Esbati contradicted the official line taken by Iran's leaders on the downfall of their ally Bashar al-Assad. General Esbati revealed that Iran's relations with Mr. al-Assad had been strained for months leading to his ouster, saying that the Syrian leader had denied multiple requests for Iranian-backed militias to open a front against Israel from Syria. He also accused Russia of misleading Iran and facilitating Israeli attacks on Iranian targets in Syria. Despite the general's assertions about activating networks, it remains unclear what Iran can realistically do in Syria given the challenges it faces.