Increase in Military Assistance from the Islamic Republic to Syria; From Equipment Delivery to Development of Military Industries

On Wednesday, May 10, the Minister of Defense of the Islamic Republic announced the readiness of the Islamic Republic to assist in the reconstruction and development of Syria's defense industry infrastructure. In a meeting with 'Abdulkarim Muhammad Ibrahim', the Chief of Staff of the Syrian Army in Tehran, he stated: 'The Islamic Republic, as it has been alongside Syria in previous years, is now also ready to utilize its capacities and capabilities for the reconstruction and development of Syria's defense industry infrastructure.' The Chief of Staff of the Syrian Army, in this meeting, expressed gratitude for the comprehensive support of the Islamic Republic for the Syrian government, stating: 'The current position of Syria is the result of the sacrifices and steadfastness of the two countries, Iran and Syria, and Syria will never forget the assistance and cooperation of its true friends.' On Wednesday, April 12, Reuters reported that Iran has been using its aircraft to transport a large quantity of weapons to Syria under the guise of 'humanitarian aid' following the recent earthquake. According to this report, these weapons include advanced communication equipment, radar systems, and spare parts for upgrading Iran's air defense systems in Syria. On the other hand, on Tuesday, May 9, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Dean Phillips and Gregory W. Meeks, members of the ranking committee, and Joe Wilson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, presented a bipartisan plan to sanction a wide range of missile and drone activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. These individuals intend to impose new sanctions from the U.S. and the international community on Iran's destructive missile and drone activities before the expiration of the UN missile sanctions against the Islamic Republic in October 2023. Since the beginning of the civil war in Syria in 2011, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently supported Bashar al-Assad, during which dozens of members of the Revolutionary Guard have also been killed amid the unrest in the country.