More than 1,000 pro-Assad Iranian fighters have died in Syria’s conflict
Shiite Iran is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and provides both financial and military support for his regime
Tehran — More than 1,000 combatants sent from Iran to fight in support of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria have been killed in the conflict, the head of Iran’s veterans’ affairs office said on Tuesday. "The number of martyrs from our country defending the shrines has now passed 1,000," Tasnim news agency quoted Mohammad Ali Shahidi Mahalati, the head of Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, as saying. Iran has sent military advisers, as well as fighters recruited from Afghanistan and Pakistan, to work with Assad’s forces. They are known in Iran as "defenders of the shrines", in reference to Shiite holy sites in Syria. Shahidi did not specify the nationalities of those killed. Shiite Iran is a staunch supporter of Assad and provides both financial and military support for his regime. The Fatemiyoun Division of Afghan recruits organised by Iran comprises the majority of volunteers sent from Iran to fight in Syria and Iraq. Iran says they are sent to fight against Sunni ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.