Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces: We Established Missile Manufacturing Industry in Aleppo

Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, stated on November 20 that Iran has established a "missile manufacturing industry for Syria" in the Aleppo region and produced missiles that were used in the "33-day war" against Israel. Bagheri referred to the conflict between the Israeli army and Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006, known as the "33-day war"; according to the Israeli Prime Minister, this war aimed to destroy Hezbollah, but that goal was ultimately not achieved. Hezbollah, one of the most significant Iranian-backed militia groups, is currently involved in the Syrian civil war, supporting Bashar al-Assad's government forces. One of the most critical centers of intense fighting in this war is the city of Aleppo, which was once considered Syria's economic hub. Major General Mohammad Bagheri of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that during the Iran-Iraq war, there was "no balance" between Iran's missile capabilities and those of its western neighbor, while countries like Syria "boasted" about providing missiles to Iran and "were strict" about it. According to Bagheri, "The Syrians said our warehouses have Russian guards, and we cannot give you missiles." He then added, "But Syria has reached a point where, in recent years, the Islamic Republic of Iran established a missile industry for Syria in the Aleppo region, and missiles were produced in this industrial complex, which were used in the 33-day war against Israel." He made these remarks during a state ceremony for Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, the former commander of the IRGC's Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization, who was killed in a massive explosion at a military base in Malard, Karaj. His brother had previously stated that the explosion occurred while Tehrani Moghaddam was testing "an intercontinental ballistic missile." He later retracted this statement. Tehrani Moghaddam is remembered as one of the key figures in the IRGC's missile program. The state newspaper Iran reported in November 2011 that he was also one of the "founders of Hezbollah's missile unit." Bagheri now claims that the establishment of the missile industry in Aleppo, Syria, was one of Tehrani Moghaddam's actions. The use of Iranian missiles during the 33-day war by Hezbollah has been previously mentioned; for instance, during the attack on the Israeli Navy's corvette "Hanith," an anti-ship "Noor" missile was launched from the shore towards it. This corvette was destroyed as a result of that attack. Iran's ballistic missile program and the individuals and mechanisms related to this program are facing U.S. sanctions. Hezbollah and its military wing are recognized as a terrorist group by several countries, including the U.S., the European Union, and some Arab nations. Western countries have repeatedly urged Iran to cease organizing and sending its supported militia forces to Syria to find a political solution to the Syrian civil war. Several senior Iranian military officials claim that the battle in Syria is to maintain security along the country's borders. The Syrian civil war has resulted in at least 270,000 to 500,000 deaths and displaced half of the country's population. Significant parts of Aleppo have been turned into ruins due to this war, and control of the city itself is divided among government forces, various rebel groups, as well as Al-Qaeda affiliates and Salafi groups.