Khamenei Says Bashar al-Assad Appeared as a 'Great Fighter'

Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on Thursday, March 1, during a meeting with the Syrian Minister of Awqaf and his accompanying delegation, referred to Tehran's support for the Syrian government and stated that Bashar al-Assad appeared as a great fighter. According to ISNA, Khamenei praised Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying, 'Syria is at the forefront today, so it is our duty to support Syria's steadfastness; Mr. Bashar al-Assad has appeared as a great fighter and stood firm without hesitation, which is very important for a nation.' While the Iranian leader has praised Bashar al-Assad, Syria has been embroiled in a civil war for the past seven years under his rule, following the suppression of nationwide protests. Reuters reports, citing human rights activists, that over 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war, and half of the country's 23 million population has been forced to flee their homes. Iran and Russia are the two main supporters of Bashar al-Assad's government during the Syrian civil war. A spokesperson for the UN special envoy for Syria previously stated that Iran provides over $6 billion annually to Syria. Other reports indicate that Iran has, in some cases, provided up to $15 billion annually to Bashar al-Assad's government. Iran has repeatedly described its military presence in Syria as 'advisory.' However, reports indicate that Iranian forces are fighting in Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad's government, and Tehran has sent a number of Afghan and Pakistani Shiites in the form of the 'Fatemiyoun Brigade' and 'Zainabiyoun Brigade' to Syria, in addition to army and IRGC forces. Mohammad Ali Shahidi, head of the Martyrs Foundation, announced in March 2017 that the number of those killed, known as 'Defenders of the Shrine,' was 2,100. Nikki Haley, the US representative to the UN, previously stated, 'The role of Iran and Russia in Assad's crimes cannot be ignored.' Former US President Barack Obama also held Iran and Russia responsible for the massacre of civilians in Aleppo. Bashar al-Assad himself has stated that the support from Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia in the civil war has created the political, economic, and military conditions for further victories for the government forces. Meanwhile, Western countries accuse Bashar al-Assad of using chemical weapons against civilians and claim he has lost his legitimacy. Rex Tillerson previously stated that he believed 'Bashar al-Assad lost his legitimacy by using chemical weapons again,' adding, 'I think it is clear to all of us that the Assad family's rule is coming to an end.' In this context, Fox News reported that Iran has built a new military base near Damascus.