Iran Buries 20 Soldiers Killed In Fighting In Syria
The cost of Iran’s involvement in the Syrian conflict is being felt at home, as Iranians buried 20 soldiers killed in 12 days of fighting recently.
Local Iranian media reported the fatalities were soldiers of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps. A local newspaper “Mashregh” published a poster identifying the 20 “martyrs” by their names and photos, and calling them “Modafe Haram,” meaning, defenders of the mosque Sayyidah Zaynab. A shrine in Damascus, it is an important destination for Shiite Muslim pilgrims.
Several weeks ago, one of the IRGC’s top commanders, Gen. Hussein Hamedani was killed by ISIS near Aleppo while advising Syrian government forces. There’s increased speculation that Syria’s army, along with Iranian and Hezbollah allies, is preparing to launch a major ground offensive, supported by Russian air strikes, against the Syrian rebels in the Aleppo area. Some even claim that at least 1,000 Iranian marines have arrived in the country to join the Russian and Syrian forces.
The presence of growing number of Iranian fighters on the ground is also starting to show up online. A video reportedly featuring Iranian soldiers using artillery fire in south Aleppo was posted and later removed, although Vocativ was able to locate and publish it.
Video reportedly showing Iranian soldiers fighting in south Aleppo
Elsewhere on Iranian social media, thousands are praising those killed in Syria using the hashtag #مدافع_حرام, while others posted images from the funerals.
From the funeral of one of the Iranians killed in Syria