Washington Times: Iran’s plans in Syria hint at goal of establishing powerful Shiite ‘Red Crescent’
Iran’s top military officer signed agreements in Syria last month that will keep Iranian forces there indefinitely with a pledge to help the Bashar Assad regime rebuild damaged military bases, according to the main opposition group to Tehran’s Islamic rulers.
Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, who became the armed forces chief of staff last year, was photographed in Aleppo visiting Iranian forces and viewing other conflict areas, according to the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Iran, and intense Russian aerial assaults, played a big role in what critics say was a brutal siege of the city that broke the back of anti-Assad rebel forces in the west.
Behind the scenes, Gen. Bagheri and his staff met three times with Mr. Assad and his high command, the National Council says in an intelligence report.
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Update: With Its Foothold Deepening in the Middle East, Iran Reaches for the Western Hemisphere (Iran News Update).
WNU Editor: It appears that Hezbollah is going to be central to Iran's plans in Syria .... Iran Guards chief: Disarming Lebanon's Hezbollah non-negotiable - TV (Reuters). More here .... Top Iranian commander: Hezbollah must remain armed for battle against Israel (Jerusalem Online). Hmmmm .... it looks like they are also getting ready for the next war .... Iran military chief: Any new Mideast war will end with Israel ‘eradicated’ (Times Of Israel)
