Iranian army chief announces plans for joint Syria-Iran military drill
The Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces met with the Syrian Defense Minister in Tehran and hailed Syria's resistance against the Israeli entity and its support for Palestine.
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Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri offers visiting Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas a plaque of honor in Tehran, Iran, on January 23, 2023. (DEFA)
Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri hailed Syria’s unwavering support to the Palestinian cause and its steadfast resistance against “Israel”; the entity that occupied Arab territories in 1967.
Major General Baqeri made the statement on Monday during a meeting with Syria’s Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas who is on an official visit to Tehran.
Baqeri also called for strengthening defense ties between Tehran and Damascus, announcing plans to hold joint military war games between the two nations.
“Muslims and Arabs are duty-bound to stand by Syria in this regard. You have done a great job, put up considerable resistance,” Iran’s commander of the Armed Forces added.
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“The Zionist regime has perpetrated all forms of crimes over the past decades, occupying Palestinian territories, and it must be held accountable to the peoples of the world. This is while some Arab countries have turned to normalization of ties [with Israel] and betrayed the cause of Palestine as well as Arab and Muslim worlds,” he added.
Baqeri commended the Syrian Arab Army on its victory and highlighted that Syria was able to defeat the foreign plot that targeted it over a decade ago.
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“The Syrian government and nation have thwarted the plot hatched more than a decade ago. They defended their homeland through strong willpower and steadfastness. We felicitate you and your colleagues on this victory.”
“Thank God, Syria was able to foil the conspiracy of its enemies. The plot could have plunged the Muslim world and the West Asia region into turmoil. This was a laborious task,” he added, noting that the Islamic Republic has lost several senior military advisors who were on a mission to advise and support the Syrian Arab Army against the foreign-backed Takfiri terrorist proxies.
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The top Iranian commander also commemorated the martyrdom of General Qassem Soleimani who was a spearhead in the fight against the Takfiri terrorists in Iraq and Syria and was assassinated by the US in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 3, 2020.
The Syrian people have for years been the target of an imperialist-led onslaught that heavily weakened the government's capacities to rebuild the nation, which has made it difficult for public works to attend to reparations and emergencies.
Baqeri confirmed Iran’s readiness to assist the Syrian army in restructuring and training its military forces and providing it with needed equipment.
On his part, the Syrian Defense Minister highlighted the high level of collaboration between the two nations in the fight against “Israel” and the terrorist groups.
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He also hailed Tehran’s role in backing and supporting his country during the foreign-backed war and the fight against the Israeli occupation entity, stressing that Syria’s fight against the Israeli regime will continue and Damascus will stand with nations that are seeking independence.
In his latest visit to Iran earlier this month, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Sosan met with the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran and discussed the latest developments in Syria and the region and ways to develop the bilateral ties between the two countries.
Amir-Abdollahian stressed the importance of the outstanding relations between Iran and Syria and the necessity of maintaining economic cooperation and expanding it between the two countries in order to utilize their capabilities and establish stability, security, and peace in the region.
On his part, Sosan discussed developments in Syria and West Asia at large. He emphasized the significance of the strategic affinity between Syria and Iran and proposed mechanisms for further developing bilateral relations to face common challenges.
He also thanked the Islamic Republic for its support for Syria and its help in the political resolution of the crisis in the country.
Syria has witnessed in the recent period an increased number of Iranian investors establishing businesses and creating firms to operate in the Syrian economy, most notably what is referred to as the "reconstruction" of the country following the destruction caused by the international war waged on it.
