Al-Mayadeen: IRGC has launched operations in Syria; IRGC: We have not conducted independent operations

While the Lebanese network Al-Mayadeen reported on operations by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria, the IRGC spokesperson stated that this organization has not conducted "independent ground operations in Syria." On Wednesday, August 16, Al-Mayadeen released an exclusive video claiming that IRGC forces have begun operations against the Islamic State group in Syria "to avenge the blood" of Mohsen Hojaji. In the video published by Al-Mayadeen, IRGC forces are seen in their uniforms reportedly conducting military operations against ISIS in the "Hmeimeh" area of Syria. Al-Mayadeen also mentioned that it received a statement announcing that the "IRGC has begun its operations to completely destroy ISIS in Syria," although it did not specify who issued the statement. Hours after this report, the IRGC spokesperson stated that the organization has not conducted "independent ground operations in Syria." Ramadan Sharif emphasized that "severe revenge" against ISIS is "on the agenda of the IRGC and will be executed at the appropriate time." He stressed that the IRGC is "more determined than ever" to continue providing "advisory services" in Syria. Previously, Islamic Republic officials had stated that Iranian military forces are present in Syria solely to provide "advisory services." Mohsen Hojaji was a member of the "8th Najaf Ashraf Brigade" of the IRGC and was captured on August 7 during a clash in the border area of Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. Two days later, images of his murder by ISIS were released, which received widespread media coverage in Iran. Following this, several Islamic Republic officials, including Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC Quds Force, announced that they would take "revenge" for Mohsen Hojaji's murder from the Islamic State group. The Islamic Republic has sent its military forces in the army and IRGC to Syria to defend Bashar al-Assad's regime and has also dispatched a number of Afghan and Pakistani Shiites in the form of the "Fatimiyoun Brigade" and "Zainabiyoun Brigade" to this country. A significant number of these forces have been killed, and in this regard, Mohammad Ali Shahidi, head of the Martyrs Foundation, announced in March 2017 that the number of these casualties at that time was 2,100. The IRGC's operations against the Islamic State group have begun while this group has also threatened in a new video that it will carry out new attacks in Iran. The Iranian Parliament building and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran were targeted in two simultaneous attacks on June 7, which ISIS claimed responsibility for shortly after. In this attack, 17 people were killed and more than 50 were injured. Subsequently, Iranian security and judicial officials announced that dozens had been arrested in various provinces of Iran on charges of collaborating with this group, some of whom intended to carry out "suicide operations" in Iran. The IRGC also announced on June 18 that in retaliation for the Tehran attacks, it targeted one of the Islamic State group's centers in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, with its missiles. The number of missiles fired was reported to be six, and the IRGC considered this operation "successful," although the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted military officials stating that only two of the fired missiles hit the intended targets.