(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Ali Alfoneh - On May 6, at least 16 Iranians from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces were killed during the rebel seizure of Khan Touman village southwest of Aleppo. The losses indicate continuing Iranian deployment patterns in Syria with the expanded use of IRGC ground forces in addition to or in place of the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), the branch normally used for expeditionary operations. They also call into question past reports that large numbers of Iranian forces were withdrawing from Syria. 14 of those killed served in the IRGC's 25th Karbala Division. Karbala Division spokesman Hossein Ali Rezaei disclosed on May 10 that all of the unit's surviving members serving in Syria, including 21 wounded, were being transferred back to Iran. A survey of funeral services held in Iran for soldiers killed in Syria from January 19, 2012, to May 10, 2016, documents 400 Iranian fatalities, nearly all from the IRGC.
2016-05-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive