Iranian military advisor Kiomars Pourhashemi was assassinated in Syria, with Iranian officials accusing the U.S. of orchestrating the attack. Deputy Commander Mohammad Jafar Asadi dismissed claims of Syrian involvement and highlighted the difficulties faced by the Syrian army amid ongoing global tensions. He also addressed the reduction of the National Defense Forces and predicted a strong response from Syrians to Israeli provocations.
TEHRAN – In a recent statement, Mohammad Jafar Asadi, Deputy Commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, confirmed the assassination of Iranian military advisor Kiomars Pourhashemi in Syria, attributing the act to an infiltrator working on behalf of the United States. Asadi specifically stated that “an American agent was responsible for the martyrdom of our commander in Aleppo,” rebutting claims that a Syrian general was behind the attack as mere “Israeli propaganda aimed at creating discord between Iran and Syria.”
Brigadier General Pourhashemi, associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed on November 28 in Aleppo. While initial reports surrounding his assassination were sparse, a news correspondent from China’s CGTN subsequently suggested that the general was shot by a Syrian officer during a meeting; a claim firmly denied by Asadi.
Asadi expressed deep concerns regarding the Syrian army’s plight, indicating that they are straining under global opposition, struggling for basic supplies. Additionally, he remarked on the challenges faced by Russia in Syria, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating that “the Russians have been bogged down for a long time” due to NATO’s interference.
In discussing the National Defense Forces established by the martyred General Qasem Soleimani, Asadi highlighted initial resistance from the Syrian army toward this initiative, noting that after persistent persuasion, approximately 120,000 individuals enlisted. However, he lamented the reduction of this force to merely 20,000 due to American and Israeli support for militant factions near Idlib.
Asadi also addressed the simmering tensions between Resistance forces and the ruling regime in Syria, emphasizing a universal sentiment of patriotism. He warned that the ongoing humiliation imposed by Israel on Syria will inevitably provoke a response from the nation’s youth, avowing that “Syrian patriots will certainly respond to this disgrace and aggression in the future.”
The context surrounding this situation involves the ongoing conflict in Syria, which has seen multiple factions, including Iranian forces and various militant groups, vying for influence. The U.S. has been implicated in destabilizing actions within the region, and accusations of foreign involvement in local assassinations are not uncommon. The Resistance movements within Syria, supported by Iran, are particularly sensitive to allegations that could undermine their efforts against perceived foreign aggression, particularly from the U.S. and Israel.
The assassination of Brigadier General Kiomars Pourhashemi symbolizes the escalating tensions in Syria, exacerbated by external interventions from the United States and its allies. Iranian officials maintain that foreign agents are responsible for such attacks and emphasize the need for unity against perceived threats. The situation underscores the fragility of the Syrian military landscape, with internal divisions and external pressures compounding the challenges faced by regional forces.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
