Iran likely to increase advisors, deploy forces in Syria: Official
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A senior Iranian official tells Reuters that Iran is currently providing intelligence and satellite-related support to Syria.
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Members of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) march during a military parade in the Iranian capital Tehran in 2018 (AFP)
Tehran has taken all necessary steps to increase the number of its military advisors and deploy forces in Syria, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday.
"It is likely that Tehran will need to send military equipment, missiles and drones to Syria... Tehran has taken all necessary steps to increase the number of its military advisers in Syria and deploy forces," the official indicated on condition of anonymity.
According to the official, Iran is currently providing intelligence and satellite-related support to Syria.
The source pointed out that Iran and Iraq are exploring joint defense projects involving Resistance groups and even regular armies.
The decision to intensify airstrikes at this stage rests with Syria and Russia, the official told Reuters.
On Monday, a source from the Axis of Resistance's factions told Al Mayadeen that reinforcements from the Syrian Army's allies in the Axis of Resistance have reached the frontlines north and east of Hama, extending to the southern frontlines of Aleppo Governorate.
Separately, a source from the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) stated to Al Mayadeen that the recent terrorist attack on Syria has prompted the return of Iranian military advisors to the country. These advisors had previously left when the political process in Syria began to progress years ago.
Earlier on Friday, the head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Faleh al-Fayyad, pointed out that the Syrian crisis is an internal matter, but not when it involves terrorist groups whose recent crimes are still remembered.
"Although Iraq is not a party to the crisis, it has to protect itself in light of what is happening in a neighboring country, and Syria represents our vital security area that cannot be separated from Iraq, and anyone who says otherwise is delusional," he said.
"Iraq cannot turn a blind eye when terrorist groups dominate Syria,” he underlined, pointing out that "Iraq today is different from Iraq in 2014, as is Mosul, and terrorist groups today bear the same names that we fought, and Nineveh is the largest arena that fought ISIS and others."
On his part, Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem stated in a televised speech on Thursday that the aggression on Syria is "fostered by US and Israel following their powerlessness in Gaza and their failure in attempts to sideline Syria."
Sheikh Qassem vowed that "we in Hezbollah will stand beside Syria in foiling goals of aggression against it."
Read more: Sunnis to fight battle of honor against Takfiris: Iraqi Scholar Assoc.
