MESOP Iran Daily: Revolutionary Guards Praise “200,000 Armed Youth in Region”

January 13 – 16:002016 – by Scott Lucas – eaworldview – Upholding its intervention in Syria’s conflict, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has claimed a role in the mobilization of “200,000 armed youths in regional countries”.Guards commander General Mohammad Ali Jafari made the declaration at a ceremony for one of the latest Iranian casualties in Syria, Hamid Reza Assadollahi, as he praised the “young generation” for advancing the goals of the Islamic Revolution.

Iran officially denies that it has any troops inside Syria, although it acknowledges “advisors”. In 2012, the Revolutionary Guards oversaw the creation of the National Defense Force militia, with a goal of 50,000 members, to prop up the Syrian military. Tehran is working closely with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, who intervened in spring 2013 against the rebels, initially in western Syria near the Lebanese border and then throughout the country. This summer Iran’s military, notably Quds Force leader General Qassem Soleimani, worked with Moscow over the intervention to prevent the Assad regime’s collapse, including Russian bombing from September 30. Tehran sent in more commanders and troops, along with its command of foreign militias, to accompany and sometimes lead regime ground offensives. Since October 7, Iranian media have confirmed the deaths of more than 120 troops, including eight commanders, in the offensives. www.mesop.de