Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said that advisers from the elite military unit are giving nonmilitary assistance to the Syrian regime.
Jafari confirmed that personnel with the Qods Force, which is overseen by the Revolutionary Guards, are in Syria. He stressed that this does not mean Iran has a military presence in the country, according to state-run media.
“It is an honor for the Islamic Republic to share its experiences and provide [the Syrian government with] any kind of consultation to defend Syria, which is in the resistance circle,” he said, according to Press TV.
He condemned foreign governments for providing material support to rebels fighting against the Syrian regime.
Jafari’s statement is the first official confirmation by an Iranian official that Iran has its forces on the ground in Syria during the 18-monthlong conflict that has left tens of thousands of people dead.
He added, “We just give them our experience, advice, and intellectual assistance,” according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. He continued, “Compared with certain Arab countries’ military presence and support for opposition groups in Syria, we have actually done nothing.”
If Syria were attacked by a foreign country, Jafari said Iran would change its tactics but “this completely depends on the situation,” according to the semi-official ISNA.
The Syrian opposition and Israel have accused Iran of actively helping the regime crackdown on dissent and fight rebel forces in the war.
The opposition Local Coordination Committees activist network said that around 164 people were killed across Syria Saturday, with heavy fighting between rebels and regime forces in Aleppo and Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 60 people were killed Sunday.
The United Nations estimates that more than 18,000 people have been killed since the uprising began in March 2011, but activists say the number is much higher.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
