Special to WorldTribune.com

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Iranian state media reports say a retired Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) general has been killed while battling against Islamic militants in northern Syria.

The Fars news agency, which is closely affiliated with the IRGC, reported on Aug. 31 that Gen. Ahmad Gholami was killed on Aug. 30 while fighting against Sunni militants in Aleppo.

The report did not specify whether Gholami was killed by Islamic State militants or U.S.-backed Sunni rebels who are fighting against forces of Iranian-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The report described Gholami as a “volunteer” who was serving in Syria as a “military adviser” to Syrian government forces.

Tehran denies that any of its professional soldiers are active in Syria, insisting its commanders and generals there act purely as volunteer military advisers.

Iranian media has previously reported that “hundreds” of “military advisers” and “volunteers” from Iran have been killed in Syria in recent years.