Reuters, Beirut :
Iran’s military chief met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday during a visit to Damascus to set out a joint military strategy, Syria’s state news agency reported, a sign of deepening Iranian influence that has alarmed Israel.
General Mohammad Baqeri said Iran was determined to continue supporting the Syrian leadership and people “until security and safety are returned to them” and would help with reconstruction, the state news agency SANA said.
Israel has voiced deep concern over Tehran’s widening influence in Syria, where Iranian forces and Iran-backed militias including Lebanon’s Hezbollah have played a critical role helping Assad in the six-year-long war. On Tuesday, Baqeri, speaking from Damascus, warned Israel against breaching Syrian airspace and territory and pledged to increase cooperation with Syria’s military to fight both Israel and Sunni jihadist militants.
Israel’s air force says it has struck arms convoys of the Syrian military and Hezbollah nearly 100 times during the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Iran was strengthening its foothold in Syria and that Israel would “do whatever it takes” to protect its security.
Tensions have risen this year between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel, which have avoided a major conflict since 2006.
In the meeting with Baqeri, Assad said the Iranian people and armed forces were a key partner in victories “against terrorism in Syria”, SANA reported.
Military support from Iran and Russia has helped Assad regain swathes of Syria from rebels and Islamic State militants.
Meanwhile Iran’s military chief of staff visited a frontline position near the Syrian city of Aleppo, a military news outlet run by the Lebanese group Hezbollah reported on Friday, during a visit that has underlined Tehran’s deep military role in Syria.
General Mohammad Baqeri visited the position with a number of Iranian officers, according to the report, which was accompanied by photos showing Baqeri looking at a map and peering through binoculars.
Neighboring Israel has expressed deep concern over Iran’s role in Syria, where Iranian fighters and Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah have played a major role fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad.
Baqeri met Assad on Thursday during a visit to set out a joint military strategy, Syrian state media reported.
Baqeri has warned Israel against breaching Syrian airspace and territory and pledged to increase cooperation with Syria’s military to fight both Israel and Sunni jihadist militants.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Iran is strengthening its foothold in Syria, warning that Israel would “do whatever it takes” to protect its security.
Helped by Russian air power, Iran-backed groups including Hezbollah played a major part in the Syrian government campaign to recapture eastern districts of Aleppo city from Syrian rebels last year. Rural areas to the south and west of the city are still in insurgent hands.
Iran’s military chief met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday during a visit to Damascus to set out a joint military strategy, Syria’s state news agency reported, a sign of deepening Iranian influence that has alarmed Israel.
General Mohammad Baqeri said Iran was determined to continue supporting the Syrian leadership and people “until security and safety are returned to them” and would help with reconstruction, the state news agency SANA said.
Israel has voiced deep concern over Tehran’s widening influence in Syria, where Iranian forces and Iran-backed militias including Lebanon’s Hezbollah have played a critical role helping Assad in the six-year-long war. On Tuesday, Baqeri, speaking from Damascus, warned Israel against breaching Syrian airspace and territory and pledged to increase cooperation with Syria’s military to fight both Israel and Sunni jihadist militants.
Israel’s air force says it has struck arms convoys of the Syrian military and Hezbollah nearly 100 times during the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Iran was strengthening its foothold in Syria and that Israel would “do whatever it takes” to protect its security.
Tensions have risen this year between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel, which have avoided a major conflict since 2006.
In the meeting with Baqeri, Assad said the Iranian people and armed forces were a key partner in victories “against terrorism in Syria”, SANA reported.
Military support from Iran and Russia has helped Assad regain swathes of Syria from rebels and Islamic State militants.
Meanwhile Iran’s military chief of staff visited a frontline position near the Syrian city of Aleppo, a military news outlet run by the Lebanese group Hezbollah reported on Friday, during a visit that has underlined Tehran’s deep military role in Syria.
General Mohammad Baqeri visited the position with a number of Iranian officers, according to the report, which was accompanied by photos showing Baqeri looking at a map and peering through binoculars.
Neighboring Israel has expressed deep concern over Iran’s role in Syria, where Iranian fighters and Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah have played a major role fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad.
Baqeri met Assad on Thursday during a visit to set out a joint military strategy, Syrian state media reported.
Baqeri has warned Israel against breaching Syrian airspace and territory and pledged to increase cooperation with Syria’s military to fight both Israel and Sunni jihadist militants.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Iran is strengthening its foothold in Syria, warning that Israel would “do whatever it takes” to protect its security.
Helped by Russian air power, Iran-backed groups including Hezbollah played a major part in the Syrian government campaign to recapture eastern districts of Aleppo city from Syrian rebels last year. Rural areas to the south and west of the city are still in insurgent hands.
