Deployment of Mazandaran IRGC Forces to Syria and Iraq 'Has Been Halted'

The deployment of IRGC and Basij forces from Mazandaran province to Syria has been halted following the death of at least 13 members of the IRGC in Khan Tuman, Aleppo province. 'Basij News Agency' reported this on Sunday, May 26, citing one of the speakers at a memorial ceremony for the 'Martyrs of the Shrine' in Sari. The speaker, Hojjatoleslam Kazemi, one of the 'Defenders of the Shrine' in Syria, stated that 'in light of the martyrdom of 13 of our fighters from Mazandaran in Syria, it was decided that the transfer of forces from Mazandaran to operational areas in Syria and Iraq should be halted for the time being.' He mentioned that this decision was met with 'complaints' from many fighters and supporters, and a petition has been prepared to be submitted to Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC. Fars News Agency also reported on the halt of the deployment of IRGC and Basij forces from Mazandaran to Syria and Iraq. On May 23, the IRGC of Mazandaran announced the death of at least 13 of its forces in Khan Tuman, stating that 21 other members were injured in these clashes. The bodies of some of the deceased, along with the injured, have gradually been transferred from Syria to Iran over the past week. The decision to halt the deployment from the '25 Karbala' division of Mazandaran was made at a time when Morteza Safari, the commander of the Imam Hussein Military Academy affiliated with the IRGC, announced the dispatch of '100 military advisors from the IRGC's military academy to Syria and Iraq.' Safari stated on Saturday, May 25, that 'in the past year, a significant number of our commanders and trainers have been dispatched for two-month missions to these areas.' He added that some of these forces 'returned to the country after completing their missions, while others were martyred or injured.' According to this IRGC commander, several other forces currently remain in their mission locations.