2,100 Iranian Fighters Killed in Iraq, Syria: Iranian Official

Date:

Iranian Revolutionary Guard members in Tehran carry the casket of Iran Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Mohsen Ghajarian, who was killed in the northern province of Aleppo , Syria . (photo credit:ATTA KENARE / AFP)
Iranian Revolutionary Guard members in Tehran carry the casket of Iran Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Mohsen Ghajarian, who was killed in the northern province of Aleppo, Syria . — AFP

TEHRAN (AFP) — More than 2,000 fighters sent from Iran have been killed in Iraq and Syria, the head of Iran’s veterans’ affairs office said Tuesday.

“Some 2,100 martyrs have been martyred so far in Iraq or other places defending the holy mausoleums,” Mohammad Ali Shahidi told the state-run IRNA news agency.

Shahidi, who is head of Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, was speaking at a conference on martyrdom culture in Tehran.

The figure was more than double the number he gave in November, which referred only to Syria.

Iran is, with Russia, the main military backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and also organises militias fighting the militant Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq.

Shahidi did not provide details on the nationalities of those killed.

Iran oversees “volunteer” fighters recruited from among its own nationals as well as communities in neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The families of those killed in battle are given Iranian citizenship under a law passed last May.

Tehran refers to the fighters as “defenders of the shrines” — a reference to holy sites in Iraq and Syria that have been targeted by the militants.

theclarionindia
theclarionindiahttps://clarionindia.net
Clarion India - News, Views and Insights about Indian Muslims, Dalits, Minorities, Women and Other Marginalised and Dispossessed Communities.

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Israel Kills More Than 300 in Gaza in 48 Hours As Possible Truce in Balance

Gaza’s Government Media Office says Israel has committed "26...

Hamas Studying New Ceasefire Proposals, Calls For End to Gaza War

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar says the deal is...

Hindu IIT Graduate Arrested for Killing a Cow in UP’s Fatehpur; Mental Illness Cited

Bajrang Dal and VHP shove the issue under the...

Sharjeel Imam’s Letter from Jail Sparks Renewed Debate Over 2020 Delhi Riots

The student activist’s heartfelt letter from Tihar Jail reveals...