Increase in Iranian Casualties in 'Northern Aleppo Clashes'

According to reports from Iran, the number of Iranian casualties from recent attacks aimed at breaking the siege of the Shiite towns of 'Nubl' and 'Zahra' in Syria has increased. On February 3, news agencies Fars and Tasnim reported that at least 13 people were killed in clashes apparently related to Nubl and Zahra in northern Aleppo province. However, new reports have emerged indicating that several more individuals have been killed during this period. 'Abna', a news agency known as the 'Ahlulbayt' news agency, on February 4 named seven of the deceased 'Pasdar and Basij' members as Javad Mohammadi, Mohammad Ibrahim Tofighian, Firoz Hamidizadeh, Alireza Hajivand, Ali-Hossein Kahkesh, Morteza Torabi, and Reza Adeli. These individuals are from Ahvaz, Bojnourd, Dezful, Bahar (Hamadan), and Mashhad and, according to 'Abna', were killed in the 'operation to break the siege of the Shiite towns of Nubl and Zahra' in recent days. However, Fars news agency has also published new names that appear not to be Iranian citizens; Mohammad Ali Badr, Mohammad Hassan Al-Darir, Kamal Shayban, Ahmad Sharbo, and Ali Abdul-Jawad Al-Kanj Abu Ahmad. According to this news agency, these individuals were killed during the attacks on Nubl and Zahra, but they are referred to as 'fighters' and their exact identities have not been clarified. Iran claims to have 'military advisors' in Syria. In addition to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hezbollah forces from Lebanon and citizens from other countries, from Afghanistan to Iraq, are also present in the battles in Syria under Iranian guidance in support of Bashar al-Assad's government. Iranian news agencies report that the Syrian army and 'resistance forces' succeeded on February 3 in breaking the siege of the two towns of Nubl and Zahra in Aleppo province. Arab media had previously reported on February 2 about the intensification of attacks to break the siege of these two areas. These two towns have been under siege by a group of rebels opposing Bashar al-Assad since 2013. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the aim of these attacks is also to cut the supply route of the rebels opposing Bashar al-Assad, between Aleppo in northwestern Syria and the Turkish border region. Fars news agency states that breaking the siege of Nubl and Zahra has given the Syrian army a 'strategic advantage' and 'separated one of Turkey's gateways in Azaz from the villages located south of the line towards Nubl and Zahra'. According to this news agency, this 'success' sends 'more decisive messages' to Geneva for the Bashar al-Assad government. Fars news agency refers to negotiations between representatives of the central Syrian government and Assad's opponents that had been held in Geneva but are currently suspended. Western officials say that the Geneva negotiations are the best and probably the only chance to end the Syrian war. In this context, 'tens of thousands' of Syrians are fleeing from Aleppo towards the Turkish border. Zarif: Iran has provided $2.8 billion in assistance to Syria. The spokesperson for the Saudi army: We are ready to send ground troops to Syria.