Damascus Rejects Claims about Iranian Forces on Syrian Soil
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi dismissed as unfounded reports claiming that Iranian ground troops have been deployed to Syria, saying that only military advisers from the Islamic Republic are present in the Arab country.
“Only some Iranian military advisers, whose mission is to provide consultations and nothing more, are present in Syria,” Zoubi was quoted as saying by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Iran is part of the “Axis of Resistance” and an ally in the region, he said, adding that the resistance movement is seeking to end terrorism whose aim is to undermine Syria’s status in the Arab world and the region.
In a report on Wednesday, Reuters quoted unnamed officials as saying that thousands of Iranian troops have arrived in Syria to take part in a ground offensive against insurgents around Aleppo.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including the ISIL, currently controlling parts of it.
According to the United Nations, more than 240,000 people have been killed and one million wounded during the conflict.
In the meantime, Iran has remained a close ally of Syria and supports its legitimate government in the face of foreign-backed militancy.
Back in June, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hailed the resistance of the Syrian government and people against foreign-backed terrorist groups in the Arab country, saying that Tehran is determined to side with Damascus to the end of the crisis.
