Iran: Burial of Five Afghans and Two Pakistanis Killed in Syria

Iranian media reported on the funeral ceremonies for five Afghan nationals and two Pakistanis killed in Syria, which took place on Thursday, November 21, in the cities of Mashhad, Qom, and Mahallat. According to Fars News Agency, the bodies of two Afghan nationals named Ali Rahimi and Ali Alami were buried in the 'Fatemiyoun Martyrs Section' in Mashhad. Fars states that these two individuals were killed in Syria 14 days ago. Previously, Iranian media had reported the death of Ali Hosseini Alami, referring to him as one of the 'commanders of the Fatemiyoun Brigade.' The Fatemiyoun Brigade is composed of Afghan nationals residing in Iran and Afghanistan who fight in defense of Bashar al-Assad, with Iranian forces primarily present in leadership roles. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) also reported on Thursday that the body of Mohammad Barati, a soldier killed in Syria, was buried in Mahallat. Local websites have noted that this 24-year-old Afghan national was a member of the 'Fatemiyoun Brigade.' Meanwhile, the news agency 'Abna' and several news websites reported on the funerals of two Afghan nationals and two Pakistanis killed in Syria in Qom. The 'Mashregh News' website identified Mohammad Reza Ahmadi and Javad Akbari as members of the 'Fatemiyoun Brigade,' and Sartaj Khan and Navid Hossein as members of the 'Zainabiyoun Brigade' who were killed in Syria. The 'Zainabiyoun Brigade' was formed from within Iran to fight in Syria, consisting of Pakistani Shia residing in Iran. In recent months, the bodies of 10 Pakistanis killed in Syria have also been buried in Iran, in addition to the casualties Iran has suffered during the Muharram Operation. The Muharram Operation began at the start of the month of Muharram, supported by Russian air forces, by the Syrian army and units of the Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah to reclaim the city of Aleppo in Syria. According to Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, approximately 50 Iranians have been killed in this operation so far. Among those who have died during this operation are Ali Tamanzadeh, Ismail Siratnia, Hossein Jamali, Ezzatollah Soleimani, Ismail Zahedpour, Mohsen Fanousi, Qadir Sarlek, Rouhollah Ghorbani, Moslem Nasr, Khanali Youssefi, Moslem Khizab, Mehdi Alidoost, Abdollah Bagheri, Milad Mostafavi, Sajjad Tahernia, Rouhollah Emadi, Amin Karimi, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Ahmad Estahkami, Nader Hamid Deilami, Majid Sanaei Mofagh, Mojtaba Karami, and Reza Damrudi. In this context, '400 fighters' killed in Syria have been buried in Iran. 15 groups fight 'on behalf of Iran' in Syria and Iraq. The bodies of three Afghan nationals killed in Syria were buried in Qom. Two more commanders of the Revolutionary Guards were killed in Syria. Three other members of the Revolutionary Guards were killed in clashes in Syria. Hossein Salami stated that Iranian forces are present on the battlefields in Syria. Four more Iranian military personnel were killed in Syria. Two more commanders of the Revolutionary Guards were killed in Syria.