The Reform Party of Syria said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
could be operating in at least four regions in Syria. RPS, based in
Washington, quoted witnesses as saying that Assad's security forces were
heard speaking a non-Arabic language.
"Assad is resorting to IRGC killers," RPS said.
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In a statement on May 22, RPS, regarded as authoritative, said IRGC
could be operating in the cities of Dera, Idlib, Jisr Al Shughour and
Talkala. The group said non-Arabic speakers acting for the regime were
assaulting physicians and nurses at the hospital in Idlib.
"This is the beginning of a large campaign against the city to detain
peaceful demonstrators," RPS said.
In April, the Syrian opposition reported Assad's use of IRGC as well as
the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah to quell protests against the regime. The
opposition has reported that several IRGC officers were captured or killed
by insurgents.
More than 1,000 civilians were said to have been killed by the Assad
regime since March. The opposition said many of the casualties stemmed from
live fire by Assad forces, particularly by the Alawite militia Shabiha.