Global InformationIranian intervention in the Syrian civil war information
| Iranian intervention in the Syrian civil war | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict | |||||||||
 Iranian and Hezbollah's (marked in blue) military presence and influence in Syria as of December 2020 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Iran-sponsored militias:
In support of:
 Russia (airstrikes)[4] |
Supported by:
Supported by:
Supported by:
|
 Islamic State |
Supported by:
 Iraqi Kurdistan[16] (limited involvement) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Ali Khamenei(Supreme Leader of Iran) Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani †[20][21](Quds Force chief commander) Brig. Gen. Dariush Dorosti †[22](IRGC commander) Maj. Abolghassem Zahiri (WIA)[1](102nd Imam Hossein Battalion commander) Ahmad Gholami †(Iranian paramilitary commander) Brig. Gen. Razi Mousavi †(IRGC commander)[20] |
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Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi † |
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| Strength | |||||||||
|
 14,000+ fighters (2017)[31] 10,000+ fighters (2017)[32] c. 2,000 al-Nujaba fighters[3] 120+ Naval Infantry advisors, several BMPs[33][34] | ? | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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10,400 killed (SOHR claim)[35]
| Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Syrian Arab Republic are close strategic allies, and Iran has provided significant support for the Syrian government in the Syrian civil war, including logistical, technical and financial support, as well as training and some combat troops. Iran sees the survival of the Syrian government as being crucial to its regional interests.[41][42][43] When the uprising developed into the Syrian Civil War, there were increasing reports of Iranian military support, and of Iranian training of the National Defence Forces both in Syria and Iran.[44] From late 2011[45] and early 2012, Iran's IRGC began sending tens of thousands of volunteers in co-ordination with the Syrian government to prevent the collapse of the Syrian Arab Army; thereby polarising the conflict along sectarian lines.[46]
Iranian security and intelligence services are advising and assisting the Syrian military in order to preserve Bashar al-Assad's hold on power.[41] Those efforts include training, technical support, and combat troops.[41][47] Estimates of the number of Iranian personnel in Syria range from hundreds to tens of thousands.[42][48][49] Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, backed by Iran's government, have taken direct combat roles since 2012.[42][50] From the summer of 2013, Iran and Hezbollah provided important battlefield support for Assad, allowing it to make advances on the opposition.[50]
In 2014, coinciding with the peace talks at Geneva II, Iran stepped up support for Syrian President Assad.[42][50] Estimates of financial assistance range from tens to hundreds of billions of dollars.[51][52][53][54][55] Iran has portrayed its intervention as part of a religious and historical revanchist mission to subordinate Sunnis and seek vengeance. Tehran's objectives include attempts to Shi'ification through forced conversions, Shia missionary activities, establishment of shrines and demographic transformations by bringing in foreign Twelver Shia settlers in regime-controlled territories.[56][45]
Iranian troops and allied militias on the ground are supported by ballistic missile and air forces, including armed drones utilizing smart munitions. By October 2018, Iranian drones had launched over 700 strikes on Islamic State forces alone.[57] At the height of its intervention in 2015–18, an estimated 10,000 IRGC forces and 5,000 Iranian Army members had been deployed to Syria. As of 2018, 2000 officers of the Quds Forces command an estimated 131 military garrisons and tens of thousands of Iran-backed Shia jihadists across regime-controlled regions.[30] As of 2023, Iran maintains 55 military bases in Syria and 515 other military points, the majority in Aleppo and Deir Ezzor governorates and the Damascus suburbs; these are 70% of the foreign military sites in the country.[58]
- ^ a b c Toumaj, Amir (3 August 2016). "Iranian military involvement in the battle for Aleppo". The Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Four Iranian officers killed in Aleppo". 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ a b Fadel, Leith (8 August 2016). "Iraqi fighters pour into southern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ McDonnell, Patrick J.; Hennigan, W. J. (30 September 2015). "Russia launches airstrikes in Syria amid U.S. concern about targets". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Solomon, Erika (8 August 2016). "Outside help behind rebel advances in Aleppo". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ Jaffe, Greg; Entous, Adam (19 July 2017). "Trump ends covert CIA program to arm anti-Assad rebels in Syria, a move sought by Moscow". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ a b Thomas Joscelyn (7 August 2016). "Jihadists and other rebels claim to have broken through siege of Aleppo". The Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ Charkatli, Izat (3 August 2016). "Another rebel group loses important commander in Aleppo". Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Cafarella, Jennifer (2014). "Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria: An Islamic Emirate for Al-Qaeda" (PDF). Middle East Security Report 25. Washington, DC: Institute for the Study of War: 8–46. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2022.
- ^ Alkhshali, Starr, Hamdi, Barbara (28 February 2017). "Deputy al Qaeda leader killed In Syria". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Factions continue their most violent attack ever in the decisive battle at Aleppo and tens of airstrikes target the clashing areas". SOHR. 31 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "TÜRKİSTAN İSLAM CEMAATİ HALEP OPERASYONU – GANİMETLER VE ÖLDÜRÜLEN ESED MİLİTANLARI". Doğu Türkistan Bülteni Haber Ajansı. 2 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
- ^ Joscelyn, Thomas (21 September 2021). "U.S. targets suspected al Qaeda leader in Idlib, Syria". Archived from the original on 23 September 2021.
- ^ "ISIS targeted in more U.S. airstrikes to defend Syria town of Kobani". CBS News. 11 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ "France will keep delivering arms to Kurdish Syrian rebels to fight Islamic State group". Fox News. 24 March 2015. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
- ^ "Peshmerga fighters 'heavily shelling' IS jihadists in Kobane". Yahoo News. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Karouny, Mariam (9 June 2013). "Syrian forces capture final rebel stronghold in Qusair region". Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "(in Russian)". Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Genevieve Casagrande; Christopher Kozak; Jennifer Cafarella (24 February 2016). "Syria 90-Day Forecast: The Assad Regime and Allies in Northern Syria" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ a b Fadel, Leith (7 September 2016). "Iranian, Syrian commanders meet to discuss upcoming Aleppo offensive". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ "Soleimani's presence in Aleppo underscores strategy of crushing rebels - The Long War Journal". Archived from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ "Three Iranian leaders have been killed in Syria's battles". El-Dorar Al-Shamia. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ "Al-Qaeda's deputy leader 'killed in Syria'". Sky News Australia. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- ^ "Senior Nusra Front commander killed in Syria air strike". Al Jazeera. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "Air strike kills top commander of former Nusra group in Syria". Reuters. 9 September 2016.
- ^ "U.S. reportedly targets 2 senior al Qaeda figures in airstrike in Syria". FDD's Long War Journal. 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Syrian Kurdish forces reject regime request to leave positions in Aleppo". ARA News. 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Wladimir van Wilgenburg (29 July 2017). "Rojava security official says Iranian project in Syria more dangerous than ISIS". ARA News. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "Iran Says No Troops in Syria; Will Boost Support". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty. RFE/RL. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d Yahel, Ido (17 June 2021). "Iran in Syria: From Expansion to Entrenchment". Tel Aviv Notes. 15 (5): 1–2. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022 – via Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies.
- ^ What Does the Syrian War Mean for Afghanistan? Archived 20 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Syrian rebels near Israel border ordered to surrender by regime forces". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ Fadel, Leith (29 August 2016). "Russian troops head to Aleppo City". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ Fadel, Leith (30 August 2016). "Russian Army convoy arrives in Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ SOHR March 2022. Figure is for all foreign, Iran-led fighters, including both Iranian citizens and other nationals such as Lebanese.
- ^ "Foreign Shiite combat fatalities in Syria since January 19, 2012 and nationality". Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ IRGC Strategist Hassan Abbasi Praises Iranians Who Handed Over Their Own Children for Execution for Opposing the Regime, Says: 2,300 Iranians Were Killed in Syria War. MEMRI Reports. Twitter (video). Posted 12 March 2019. Accessed 14 March 2019.
- ^ "2,000 Afghan soldiers killed in Syria". Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ Clarke, Colin. A GLASS HALF EMPTY? TAKING STOCK OF HEZBOLLAH'S LOSSES IN SYRIA. Archived 26 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine 15 October 2017.
- ^ 2 killed (2012),[1] Archived 13 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine 1,200 (2013–Feb. 2016),[2] Archived 8 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine 12 killed (15 June 2016)[3] Archived 16 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine 13 killed (Aug. 2016),[4] 32 (19–20 Dec. 2016),[5][permanent dead link] 19 killed (March–Aug. 2017),[6] Archived 18 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine[7] 30 killed (16–21 Nov. 2017),[8] Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine total of 1,308 reported killed
- ^ a b c Iranian Strategy in Syria Archived 1 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Institute for the Study of War, Executive Summary + Full report, May 2013
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
IranBoostY4telegraphwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
abdowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ BBC Newsnight, report on Iranian military advisor Hadari, 28 October 2013 'Iran's Secret Army' [9] Archived 6 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine, [10] Archived 2 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Iran's stakes in Syria". GIS Reports. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023.
- ^ Fulton, Will; Holliday, Joseph; Wyer, Sam (May 2013). "Iranian strategy in Syria" (PDF). pp. 6–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2013.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Economistlongroadwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Goodarzi, Jubin (August 2013). "Iran and Syria at the Crossroads: The Fall of the Tehran-Damascus Axis?" (PDF). Viewpoints. Wilson Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ "Israel at UN: Iran has more than 80,000 fighters in Syria". The Times of Israel.
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
IranBoostY4was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ The Interim Finance Minister: 15 Billion Dollars Iranian Support to Assad Archived 17 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine; syrianef; 24, January 2014
- ^ Iran Spends Billions to Prop Up Assad Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Bloomberg View, 9 June 2015.
- ^ Borzou Daragahi. "Iran Wants to Stay in Syria Forever." Archived 7 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine Foreign Policy. 1 June 2018.
- ^ Outlaw Regime: A Chronicle of Iran's Destructive Activities. U.S. Department of State. November 2018. Pages 11, 39.
- ^ راستیآزمایی: هزینه جنگ سوریه برای ایران چقدر است؟ [How much is the cost of Syria's war for Iran?]. BBC News فارسی. British Broadcasting Corporation. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Through Evangelism and Settlements, Iran Is Remaking Syria in Its Image". Mosaic. 24 January 2023. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Iran Admits to Conducting 700 Drone Attacks in Syria." Archived 16 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine Al Araby. 16 October 2018. Accessed 17 October 2018.
- ^ "Syria has 830 foreign military sites. 70% belong to Iran". Al Majalla. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.