Syrian opposition: Iran deployed IRGC units to quash anti-Assad revolt
LONDON — The Iranian opposition has reported the deployment of the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to Syria to defend the regime of President
Bashar Assad.
The Arab opposition to the Teheran regime said Iran has sent IRGC units
to Syria to quell the revolt against Assad, Middle East Newsline reported. The opposition said IRGC has
been deployed in such Syrian cities as Banias, Damascus and Latakia.
"The Revolutionary Guards Corps currently provides the latest military
training for the forces of Bashar Assad and helps them with tactics to bring
the protests in Syrian cities under control," Nasser Jaber, a spokesman for
the Movement for Arab Liberation of Ahvaz, said.
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Jaber's assertion echoed that of others in the Syrian opposition. As
early as two months ago, the Syrian opposition reported the presence of
Hizbullah and
IRGC officers in the Assad crackdown on the pro-democracy movement. About
1,000 people have been reportedly killed by the regime.
The opposition said several officers who spoke Farsi were captured by
insurgents in the southern city of Dera. Dera, with an estimated 500
casualties, has been the focus on the Syrian revolt.
In an interview with the Saudi-owned A-Sharq Al Awsat, Jaber said IRGC
began training Assad's forces in 2009. He said the flow of Syrian military
and police officers to Iran intensified, and they were trained at IRGC's
camp in northern Teheran.
"The Teheran regime knows very well that downfall of Bashar will pose a
grave danger to the regime of the [ruling] clergymen in Iran," Jaber said.
"Therefore, Iran works to ensure that its regime will stay, not to serve
Syria's interest."