Iran Rejects Media Reports on Dispatch of Troops to Syria

An official at the Iranian Foreign Ministry categorically rejected news reports by some western media that Iran has sent soldiers to Syria to fight terrorist groups in the Muslim country.

“There has been no change in Iran’s policy of providing military counseling services to Syria and news fabrications by different foreign media and officials in this regard is aimed at distorting the current battle trend in different fronts between the Syrian forces and the terrorist groups,” the official said on Friday.

The foreign ministry official’s remarks came after some western media, including the Washington Post, claimed that “Iran has intensified its interference in Syria by dispatching troops to the country”.

He reiterated that Iran has not dispatched any troops to Syria, and said that such media reports are aimed at hiding the all-out support extended by the western countries and their regional allies to the Takfiri-terrorist groups.

The official said that Iran’s support for the defenseless innocent people of Syria and Iraq against the criminal terrorist groups is aimed at restoring stability and peace to the region.

On Thursday, a senior Iranian lawmaker announced that Tehran will consider sending troops to Syria upon Damascus request.

Speaking in the Syrian capital Damascus, Chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said any such a request will be discussed at the Iranian parliament.

He added that the Syrian government should be part of any plan to end the conflict ravaging the country, reaffirming Iran’s support for Syria in its fight against terrorist groups.

Boroujerdi said Iran has sent military aid to Syria and Iraq following requests from their governments, and added that the failure of the US-led attacks on ISIL led to the formation of the anti-terror coalition involving Syria, Iran, Russia, and Iraq.

“We have delivered arms supplies to Syria in order to fight terrorism,” he said.

Boroujerdi said the foreign plots against Syria is doomed to failure and any political solution to the crisis in the Arab country should be in coordination with Syrian government

“Whoever wants to fight terrorism he should join our coalition and combating terrorism is an international affair and needs an international agreement,” he underlined.

In relevant remarks on Wednesday, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan stressed that the country’s military experts and advisors are taking preparatory actions that will end up in the complete annihilation of the Takfiri groups, including the ISIL terrorists, in Syria.

Dehqan made the remarks in a ceremony in Tehran to commemorate martyrdom of IRGC Commander Brigadier General Hossein Hamadani, who was killed in Northern Syria last Thursday.

He referred to the new joint operations plan of Iran, Syria, Iraq and Russia to destroy the ISIL, and said, “At present, we are witnessing start of new developments in Syria, thanks to the efforts and measures adopted by martyr Hamadani.”

“God willing, these developments will pave the ground for the full annihilation of the Takfiri groups,” Dehqan said.

General Hamadani was killed in Northern Syria last Thursday, while providing military counseling services to the Syrian forces in their fight against the Takfiri terrorists.

“Brigadier General Hamadani was martyred during an attack by the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in the outskirts of the city of Aleppo while fulfilling his duty as military advisor and defending the holy Shiite shrines in the country,” the IRGC said in a statement on Friday.

General Hamadani was in Syria to render military advice to the Syrian army and popular forces in their fight against the ISIL terrorists in the Arab country.

In relevant remarks on Monday, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari underlined that the terrorist groups in Syria will sustain great losses in coming days.

“We will witness great victories in Syria in the next few days,” Jafari said.

Noting that the security of Western Asia, including Iran, is dependent on Syria and the resistance front, he said, “We should support this front with all our power.”

Jafari also warned that the “arrogant powers in the region are after overthrowing the ruling system in Syria to extend their influence in the Muslim states”.