Advisor to the Quds Force Commander: War with ISIS is Difficult and Prolonged

The senior advisor to the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps described the war against the Islamic State (ISIS) and 'takfiri' groups as 'difficult and prolonged' and stated that Iranian military forces must remain present in Syria and Iraq 'until the last ISIS member is killed.' According to the state news agency IRNA, Iraj Masjedi said on Thursday evening, June 17, during a ceremony for Iranian forces killed in 'Khan Tuman' in Syria, that 'today, a common front of Islamic resistance' has formed in Iraq and Syria. He referred to Aleppo, Fallujah, and other areas in Syria and Iraq as the 'front line of the Islamic resistance' and stated that the IRGC and Basij forces of Iran 'will remain as defenders of the shrine until the last ISIS and takfiri is killed in these fronts.' Iranian officials refer to the Islamic State and other armed groups opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as 'takfiri' groups and refer to the Syrian government and groups like Hezbollah and Hamas as the 'resistance front' against Israel. Masjedi also called the Islamic State and 'takfiri' groups 'sworn enemies of Shia' who, according to him, are fighting 'with the support' of Saudi Arabia and Israel 'to seize Iraq and Syria with the aim of approaching the borders of the Islamic Republic of Iran.' According to this IRGC commander, 'for this reason,' the forces of the Islamic Republic, along with other forces from Islamic countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, are fighting to 'shorten the hands of takfiris' from Iran's borders. Iranian officials have stated that the purpose of Iran's military presence in Syria and Iraq is to provide 'advisory assistance' to the armies of these countries. Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, stated on April 23 in an interview with Al-Mayadeen TV in Lebanon that 'if Iran did not confront terrorists in Syria and Iraq, it would have to fight them in the western provinces of the country.' Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran, also emphasized last October during the funeral of Hossein Hamadani, an IRGC commander killed in Syria, that Iran's security 'is not limited to our borders and we must be present in Syria to maintain Iran's security.' The senior advisor to the Quds Force commander also stated that ISIS forces in 'Fallujah must either surrender or be killed in future operations.' He also considered the war against ISIS and 'takfiri' groups as 'difficult and prolonged,' adding: 'This is an urban, irregular, and guerrilla war, and we must be present to defend our ideological and belief stream until the last ISIS member is killed.' According to reports, Iraqi special forces entered central areas of Fallujah on Friday, and 50% of the entire city has been retaken from ISIS. The Iraqi army's operation to retake Fallujah began last month with the air support of coalition fighter jets led by the United States.