Iran admits it has elite Quds force in Syria, Lebanon

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Syrian troops on Sunday fought rebel fighters in the country’s two main cities Damascus and Aleppo, as Iran acknowledged for the first time it has elite forces present in Syria and Lebanon as “counsellors.”

The latest violence comes as the new school term started on Sunday in Syria, where the UN says over 2,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed and hundreds more are being used as shelters.

And Pope Benedict XVI called in Lebanon on Sunday for peace in Syria and urged Arab countries to propose workable solutions to the conflict, which has killed more than 27,000 people.

Violence overnight and early Sunday killed another 15 people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The victims included four men killed as the army pounded the rebel southern Damascus suburb of Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, and at least four people were killed when a blast targeted a bus in the southern province of Daraa, the Observatory said.

Fighting erupted at dawn in the northeast suburb of Harasta, which was rocked by loud explosions, as blasts also rattled the northern suburb of Douma, said the Britain-based watchdog, which added that smoke billowed across both districts.

A child and a media activist meanwhile killed overnight in Aleppo, where the army and rebels have fought fierce battles since July to control Syria’s second city and commercial hub.

The commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards told a news conference in Tehran on Sunday that members of his elite special operations unit, the Quds Force, are present in Syria and Lebanon but insisted they were only there to provide “counsel.”

“A number of Quds Force members are present in Syria and Lebanon… we provide (these countries) with counsel and advice, and transfer experience to them,” Guards commander Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Jafari said.

“But it does not mean that we have a military presence there,” he added.

Several Western and Arab countries accuse Iran of giving military aid to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime as the Syria conflict becomes increasingly bloody.

The latest violence comes after Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, warned after meeting President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Saturday that the conflict threatens both the region and the world at large.

“The crisis is dangerous and getting worse, and it is a threat to the Syrian people, the region and the world,” said the newly appointed Brahimi, who took over as envoy earlier this month from former UN chief Kofi Annan.

The 78-year-old veteran Algerian troubleshooter, on his first Damascus visit since replacing Annan who quit after a hard-sought peace deal he brokered became a dead letter, stressed that “the solution can only come from the Syrian people.”

He said he currently had “no plan” to tackle the crisis, but a strategy will be “set… after listening to all internal, regional and international parties.”

Assad, quoted by state television, said dialogue between Syrians held the key to a solution and called on foreign countries to stop supplying arms to his foes.

“The success of political action is dependent on putting pressure on the countries that finance and train the terrorists, and which bring weapons into Syria, until they stop doing so,” Assad said.

As fighting raged in Damascus and Aleppo, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday celebrated mass in neighbouring Lebanon, praying that leaders in the Middle East work toward peace and reconciliation.

“In a world where violence constantly leaves behind its grim trail of death and destruction, to serve justice and peace is urgently necessary,” Benedict said to an estimated 350,000 faithful at open-air mass in Beirut.

“May God grant to your country, to Syria and to the Middle East the gift of peaceful hearts, the silencing of weapons and the cessation of all violence,” the pope said.

He also appealed to Arab countries that, “as brothers, they might propose workable solutions respecting the dignity, the rights and the religion of every human person.”

Syrian’s violence has spilled over into Lebanon where supporters and opponents of the Damascus regime have squared off in often deadly clashes over the past months.

On Saturday the 85-year-old pontiff had words of praise for young Syrians, saying: “I want to tell you how much I admire your courage.”

Pupils headed back to schools on Sunday across Damascus, where most establishments reopened for a new term, which a UNICEF spokeswoman has described as one of “immense challenge.”

“For children, being back at school is one of the most effective ways of giving them a sense of stability, hope and normality,” said UNICEF’s Marixie Mercado.

“It really is a hugely important way of enabling children who have gone through a nightmare to see that they do have a future.”

At least 115 people, most of the civilians, were killed across Syrian on Saturday, according to the Observatory, which gathers its information from a network of activists, medical workers and other sources on the ground.

The death toll from 18 months into the Syrian conflict has risen to more than 27,000 people, according to the Observatory, which relies on activist accounts from the ground. The United Nations puts the toll at 20,000.

AFP

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66 responses to “Iran admits it has elite Quds force in Syria, Lebanon”

  1. Patience2 Avatar

    Time for ‘back to the stone age’.

    1. Marwan Kassem Avatar
      Marwan Kassem

      Another irrelevant comment from trough boy.

      1. $31060015 Avatar

        Marwan, He can only blog as far as his IQ allows him to.   

  2. Patience2 Avatar

    Time for ‘back to the stone age’.

    1. Marwan Kassem Avatar
      Marwan Kassem

      Another irrelevant comment from trough boy.

      1. Marwan, He can only blog as far as his IQ allows him to.   

  3. 5thDrawer Avatar

    ” … we provide (these countries) with counsel and advice, and transfer experience to them,” Guards commander Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Jafari said.”
    Oh, wow … thank you for your ‘Elite Stupidity’.

    “It really is a hugely important way of enabling children who have gone through a nightmare to see that they do have a future.”
    Not if it keeps going the way it is … and there will always be the horror in their minds, assuming they survive.

  4. 5thDrawer Avatar

    ” … we provide (these countries) with counsel and advice, and transfer experience to them,” Guards commander Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Jafari said.”
    Oh, wow … thank you for your ‘Elite Stupidity’.

    “It really is a hugely important way of enabling children who have gone through a nightmare to see that they do have a future.”
    Not if it keeps going the way it is … and there will always be the horror in their minds, assuming they survive.

  5. 5thDrawer Avatar

    ” … we provide (these countries) with counsel and advice, and transfer experience to them,” Guards commander Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Jafari said.”Oh, wow … thank you for your ‘Elite Stupidity’.

  6. Iran is occupying 3 Arab states : Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. 

    1. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
      Mahdi Kenaani

      coming up: iranian occupation of israHELL

      1. $31060015 Avatar

        Mahdi, you must have the same gift as me, Being able to tell the future.  

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Not difficult to see the future you want … it’s in Syria now. You want it in Israel and Iran too.

      2. Are you for real? They will blow you to oblivion. 

        1. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
          Mahdi Kenaani

          enta te7lam…

        2. $31060015 Avatar

          Hannibal, IsraeHELL stands no chance. Hence them begging the US for help as always. 
          Iran is no Iraq or Afghanistan. And the world is seriously starting to notice. I suggest you start doing the same.

      3. Are you for real? They will blow you to oblivion. 

    2. $31060015 Avatar

      Give them time champ, They will also with Syria control the whole middle east. Its only a matter of time.

    3. Lebanon is not an Arab state… 

      1. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
        Mahdi Kenaani

        yes it is

        1. Genetic studies do not support your claim:
          30% R1b Europeans
          30% J2 Aramaic/Phoenician
          30% J1 Arabs
          10% others (Ethiopian/African/Persian)
          They span throughout all religions with the same ratios except for J1 Arabs being of a slight Sunni majority.
          Culturally we speak and dress different… Our customs are different… and our food is different… Our version of Arabic is Levantine and incorporates Aramaic words. We spoke Aramaic before the Arabic expansion. Arabic evolved from Aramaic. Our expressions are even different… Tell me of one other nation with the expression: rou7 ballit el ba7er 😛

      2. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
        Mahdi Kenaani

        well, hannibal, believe it or not, this is really good news for me, you know i hate arabs right? But something surprised me, Persian? really? it is getting better and better!!! 😀

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Read Hannibal below, Mahdi. Part of 10% doesn’t give Mr Supreme an edge on numbers.

        2. facts are facts and they work well with history… Persia occupied the middle east until Alexander and the Hellenistic armies defeated them… 

        3. 5thDrawer Avatar

          The problem Hannibal, is too many want to go backwards into the future … they stopped looking to the stars with any sense of ‘mankind’ advancing beyond a small patch of sand. Imagination destroyed.

      3. Hannibal, you’re right. The definition is more complicated than what I previously wrote.

      4. Hannibal, you’re right. The definition is more complicated than what I previously wrote.

  7. Iran is occupying 3 Arab states : Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. 

    1. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
      Mahdi Kenaani

      coming up: iranian occupation of israHELL

      1. Mahdi, you must have the same gift as me, Being able to tell the future.  

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Not difficult to see the future you want … it’s in Syria now. You want it in Israel and Iran too.

      2. Are you for real? They will blow you to oblivion. 

        1. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
          Mahdi Kenaani

          enta te7lam…

        2. Hannibal, IsraeHELL stands no chance. Hence them begging the US for help as always. 
          Iran is no Iraq or Afghanistan. And the world is seriously starting to notice. I suggest you start doing the same.

    2. Give them time champ, They will also with Syria control whole middle east. Its only a matter of time.

    3. Lebanon is not an Arab state… 

      1. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
        Mahdi Kenaani

        yes it is

        1. Genetic studies does not support your claim:
          30% R1b Europeans
          30% J2 Aramaic/Phoenician
          30% J1 Arabs
          10% others (Ethiopian/African/Persian)
          They span throughout all religions with the same ratios except for J1 Arabs being of a slight Sunni majority.
          Culturally we speak and dress different… Our customs are different… and our food is different… Our version of Arabic is Levantine and incorporates Aramaic words. We spoke Aramaic before the Arabic expansion. Arabic evolved from Aramaic. Our expressions are even different… Tell me of one other nation with the expression: rou7 ballit el ba7er 😛 

      2. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
        Mahdi Kenaani

        well, hannibal, believe it or not, this is really good news for me, you know i hate arabs right? But something surprised me, Persian? really? it is getting better and better!!! 😀

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Read Hannibal below, Mahdi. Part of 10% doesn’t give Mr Supreme an edge on numbers.

        2. facts are facts and they work well with history… Persia occupied the middle east until Alexander and the Hellenistic armies defeated them… 

        3. 5thDrawer Avatar

          The problem Hannibal, is too many want to go backwards into the future … they stopped looking to the stars with any sense of ‘mankind’ advancing beyond a small patch of sand. Imagination destroyed.

      3. Hannibal, you’re right. The definition is more complicated than what I previously wrote.

  8. They were certainly not officially invited by the Lebanese Government. So, why would they be in Lebanon?  Are they there to help the poor? Are they providing help in hospitals? Or are they helping farmers in Lebanon? The answer is no.

    They are only there to train and guide the terrorist/criminal organization Hezbollah. No other reason, but to teach Hezbollah in how to terrorize those who oppose them and cause unrest in the Middle East, such as the neighbors to the south. And to finance them, but also to teach them to finance themselves through criminal activities in Lebanon and outside of Lebanon. Basically, one terrorist organization teaching another terrorist organization.

  9. They were certainly not officially invited by the Lebanese Government. So, why would they be in Lebanon?  Are they there to help the poor? Are they providing help in hospitals? Or are they helping farmers in Lebanon? The answer is no.

    They are only there to train and guide the terrorist/criminal organization Hezbollah. No other reason, but to teach Hezbollah in how to terrorize those who oppose them and cause unrest in the Middle East, such as the neighbors to the south. And to finance them, but also to teach them to finance themselves through criminal activities in Lebanon and outside of Lebanon. Basically, one terrorist organization teaching another terrorist organization.

  10. Lebanese_Australian Avatar
    Lebanese_Australian

    its a loose loose situation .. war on iran will mean more devastation and instability to the region.. but to not take action could only mean their foothold in small countrys like lebanon will only get stronger and stronger. The iranian scapegoats in south lebanon need to go.

  11. Lebanese_Australian Avatar
    Lebanese_Australian

    its a loose loose situation .. war on iran will mean more devastation and instability to the region.. but to not take action could only mean their foothold in small countrys like lebanon will only get stronger and stronger. The iranian scapegoats in south lebanon need to go.

    1. Marwan Kassem Avatar
      Marwan Kassem

      The word is lose not loose. And you live in Australia? What language do they speak there?

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        Aussie …. hehehe. But that was a mean shot … and you should admit that security isn’t very tight. 😉

        1. Mahdi Kenaani Avatar
          Mahdi Kenaani

          maybe you could suggest her the oxford..?

        2. 5th, I want it in IsraeHELL defiantly, However I really feel sorry for the innocent people living there. As for Iran, I only wish what the Iran people wish for, Peace and to be left the F@@K alone. No that’s not to much to ask for 5th is it. As for Syria, Remember in the 80’s when the whole Arab world excluding Syria went to war against Iran. Well this is the same scenario in Syria. The dumb Arabs put the money up while IsraeHELL, the US, France and the Brits supply the weapons. Now look at Iran after that bullshit war, Its Stronger than the whole Arab world put together including your beloved IsraeHELL. Syria will prevail. However it will take time.   

    2. Whats loose? is it your bunghole?

  12. Leborigine Avatar

    Wil barakee!!

  13. Leborigine Avatar

    Wil barakee!!

  14. Leborigine Avatar

    Wil barakee!!

  15. What rhymes with Quds and starts with a “C”? 

  16. What rhymes with Quds and starts with a “C”? 

  17. What rhymes with Quds and starts with a “C”? 

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