Special to WorldTribune.com

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force was seen in photos posted on Twitter rallying Iranian and Hizbullah troops in Syria.

Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani is listed as a terrorist by the Untied States and is forbidden under international sanctions from leaving Iran. On Oct. 15, Reuters confirmed Soleimani was present in Syria’s western province of Latakia.

Iran, Russia and Cuba have deployed military assets in an attempt to keep Syrian President Bashar Assad in power.

Russia has maintained that the coalition it leads is focusing its attacks on Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and Al Qaida affiliate Nusra Front, but intelligence officials from the U.S. and other countries have said most attacks have been against moderate rebels fighting to oust Assad.

Soleimani, 58, is said to have violated the travel ban in the past, having been sighted visiting Iranian-backed forces fighting ISIL in Iraq. He was also reported to have recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow. Russia denies any meeting took place.

The Quds Force commander is one of a group of Iranian officials targeted by a 2007 United Nations travel ban because of their alleged links to Iran’s nuclear or ballistic missile programs. The sanctions against Soleimani are due to be lifted when the Iran nuclear deal with world powers is implemented.

  Bashar Assad, Hizbullah forces in Syria, IRGC Quds Force chief spotted rallying Iran, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, travel ban, WorldTribune.com