Fahd Jassem al-Freij, the Syrian Defense Minister, has traveled to Tehran with a military delegation, reportedly to discuss 'counter-terrorism'. According to SANA, the Syrian state news agency, the Defense Minister and the Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces of Syria met with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Dehghan, and other Iranian military commanders. The two-day visit coincides with an escalation of attacks and pressure from militia groups on the Syrian army. In recent clashes, government forces have lost parts of their positions in Latakia, a key area under the control of the current regime in Syria. SANA reported that the aim of this visit is to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries, particularly in combating terrorism and other shared challenges. Reuters reported that on Monday, a coalition of Islamist rebels, including the al-Nusra Front, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda, captured a government military base in Idlib province in northwestern Syria. A few days earlier, they had also captured a strategic city in the region. After taking the center of Idlib province last month, the rebels are now trying to drive government forces out of the entire area. Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the Iranian government, a long-time ally of Syria, has supported Bashar al-Assad's government in various ways, including military advice and financial credit against the rebels. However, according to AFP, Bashar al-Assad recently denied the involvement of Iranian armed forces in the Syrian war. In an interview with France 2 television last week, he stated, 'We invited Hezbollah (Lebanon) to Syria, but we did not invite the Iranians. They (Iran) are not in Syria and have not sent forces here.' Bashar al-Assad added, 'We have had a permanent relationship with Iran for more than three decades. Military commanders and officials between the two countries travel back and forth and discuss. This type of cooperation between Syria and Iran has existed for a long time.'
Syrian Defense Minister Visits Iran for Talks on 'Counter-Terrorism'
The Syrian Defense Minister visited Iran to discuss military cooperation against terrorism amid escalating militia attacks on the Syrian army. This visit reflects the ongoing strategic partnership between Syria and Iran, particularly in the context of the Syrian civil war. The situation is critical as it highlights the challenges faced by the Syrian government and the role of Iranian support.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Syrian Defense Minister visited Iran to discuss military cooperation against terrorism amid rising militia attacks on the Syrian army. This visit aims to strengthen ties between the two countries as they face escalating threats from rebel groups.
- The visit coincides with increased attacks by militia groups on Syrian government forces.
- Iran has been a long-time ally of Syria, providing military and financial support.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, Iran has been a crucial ally of the Assad regime, providing military support and resources to combat various rebel factions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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