Iraq News
Terrorism

Iran funnels lethal aid to Syria, destabilising region

By Waleed Abu al-Khair in Cairo

Fighters from the Iran-backed Raad al-Mahdi Regiment pose for a photograph in Syria. [Photo circulated on social media]

Fighters from the Iran-backed Raad al-Mahdi Regiment pose for a photograph in Syria. [Photo circulated on social media]

Since the outbreak of the Syrian war, Iran has been funneling lethal aid to its affiliated militias in order to prop up the Syrian regime and expand its own influence in the country and region, experts told Diyaruna.

Strong evidence implicates Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the export of weapons to conflict zones in the Middle East, they said.

Through its affiliates, the IRGC has been "undermining the security of regional countries to facilitate imposing its hegemony", said Al-Sharq Centre for Regional and Strategic Studies researcher Fathi al-Sayed, who studies Iranian affairs.

It has recruited thousands in the Middle East and formed cells, some of which have grown into large groups with substantial influence in countries such as Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and Syria, Sheyar Turko, who has been researching the financing of the IRGC, told Diyaruna.

Members of Lebanon's Hizbullah march beside an Iranian missile at a military parade in the southern suburb of Beirut. [Photo circulated on social media]

Members of Lebanon's Hizbullah march beside an Iranian missile at a military parade in the southern suburb of Beirut. [Photo circulated on social media]

"Iran also is continuing to sponsor cells in other countries, like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait," he said.

These groups received help from the IRGC to purchase or manufacture weapons, he said, and have gained power on the ground, becoming powerful tools in its hands.

Iran has delivered long-range ballistic missiles to Lebanon's Hizbullah and to IRGC bases in Syria, he said, and the Houthis (Ansarallah) in Yemen also have used these missiles to target Saudi Arabia.

Iran fuels sectarian tensions in Syria

The "transfer of weapons and fighters to Syria under the pretext of resistance against terrorist groups is nothing but a lie crafted by the IRGC", Syrian journalist Mohammed al-Abdullah told Diyaruna.

By promoting this false narrative, the IRGC seeks to "achieve its goal of controlling as much of Syria’s territory as possible to realise its dream of reaching the Mediterranean Sea", he said.

"Iran transferred tens of thousands of tonnes of weapons, ammunition and missiles to achieve its aims," he added.

The funneling of Iranian weapons to Syria "will not bring an end to the war but will rather ignite another war, a sectarian war that has already begun", he said.

Al-Abdullah noted that Iran has already flooded many parts of Syria with weapons, claiming it is doing this to protect religious shrines and tombs.

Through these actions, however, Iran is fueling sectarian divisions in Syria, in the same way it has done in Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq, al-Abdullah said.

"The only way to stop the Iranian plan is to stop the flow of weapons to the IRGC’s arms in the Middle East, prevent the transfer of IRGC-affiliated fighters, and of course block the transfers of funds to IRGC-affiliated groups," he added.

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Hello. So, how is it the the U.S. has such a right and Iran doesn't. Israel, the fictitious creation of U.S. and British, has such a right, and Iran doesn't? Please, consult with your conscience. On the contrary, it is the absolute right of a Iran, as a superpower, to defend the Islamic countries.

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These are nothing but lies. All these websites know is lying and deception.

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Hello and greetings. It is pretty clear, as is understandable and comprehensible, that such country as the United States - which came from the other side of the Earth, and through selling and deploying various military equipment in our region as well as by spreading discord among countries of the region, has committed indescribable crimes in order to loot the wealth and resources of these nations - is now. It is obvious that the honorable Iran - which defends lives, properties, and honor of its own people, as well as the ones of oppressed nations, and that stands in the face of animistic nature and avarice of the Western government, and force them out of the region, all in accordance with the divine orders - is the target of a defamation attacks by every spiteful enemy. Of course, the battle between good and evil has been going on forever, and only those who struggle and sacrifice in the path of God will be victorious. Therefore, we wholeheartedly pray and God willing, we will sacrifice more of the likes of Hojajis. ... Thanks.

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Iran has respect for sacred ones, as well as the Imams, and these are false and lies.

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Iran has respect for sacred ones, as well as the Imams, and these are false and lies.

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