Revolutionary Guards Plan to Stay Quarter of Century in Syria
Adel al-Salmi Asharq Al Awsat 19 August 2016
http://english.aawsat.com/2016/08/article55356688/revolutionary-guards-plan-stay-quarter-century-syria

London-Iran’s Revolutionary Guards uncovered on Thursday a plan to form the
“Shi’ite Liberation Army” in Syria under the leadership of Quds Force
Commander Qasem Soleimani to fight on three fronts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Meanwhile, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces General Mohammad
Hossein Baqeri has asked Baghdad during a meeting with Iraqi National
Security Adviser Faleh al-Fayyad in Tehran to control its borders and
prevent any infiltration of fighters to Iran.

General Mohammed Ali Falaki, who leads Iranian forces in Syria, told
Mashregh News, a media outlet close to the Revolutionary Guards, on Thursday
that forces from the Shi’ite Liberation Army were not only Iranians, but
will include Iranian-sponsored militias in the Middle East.

Hinting that Iran plans to establish its own militia in several regional
areas, Falaki said: “Iran plans to rely on local forces to recruit members
for the Shi’ite Liberation Army.”

The Iranian general has also linked the establishment of this army with the
participation of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria’s fighting, asserting
that the Shi’ite Liberation Army will remain at the Syrian-Israeli border
for up to 23 years in order to complete the strategies of “Wilayat
Al-Faqih.”

Falaki denied reports that Iran was paying big sums of money to members of
the Revolutionary Guards and other forces fighting in Syria.

The general’s comments come as part of what Revolutionary Guards Commander
Mohammad Ali Jafari had announced last January about the presence of 200,000
fighters linked to the Revolutionary Guards in five states- Iraq, Syria,
Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Also, Falaki defended Iran for sending Afghan fighters to Syria. He said the
participation of Iranian forces in the Syrian battles were limited and was
only “consultative,” adding that Tehran has tasked fighters from the
Fatemiyon Afghan to fight in Syria.

Falaki explained that Iran aims to train, supply and instruct how to wage
battles in Syria.

The general defended the Afghan fighters who had been facing rising
criticism. He said: “Afghan fighters, under the leadership of the
Revolutionary Guards, are playing a leading role in Syria.”

However, he admitted that Afghans in Iran were subject to neglect and
marginalization.

In a linked development, General Baqeri had said on Wednesday that joint
committees need to be formed between Iran and Iraq to control the border and
prevent the infiltration of terrorists.