Iran is deploying hundreds of terrorist fighters to Syria from Lebanon to bolster the Assad regime, after a coalition of jihadist rebels broke the Assad regime’s siege of Aleppo.
The terrorist fighters pull largely from the ranks of Lebanese Hezbollah, a terrorist organization best known for combatting Israel, reports the Associated Press. Iran and Russia have bolstered Assad to his best battlefield position since the Syrian civil war began 5 years ago. Iran has supplied its own forces, its terrorist proxies, and organized Afghan refugee’s to fight on behalf of Assad on the battlefield.
Russia’s military intervention in Syria, beginning in September 2015 decisively tipped the scales in favor of Assad. Russia’s precision firepower capabilities, aided by the Assad regime’s indiscriminate barrel bombing, enabled Assad to besiege the city of Aleppo. Experts expected Aleppo to fall to the regime in a matter of months, and were taken by surprise at how quickly Syrian rebels were able to mount an effective battlefield offensive to break the regime’s siege.
While the rebel victory offers a momentary reprieve to the jihadist groups, Iran reports it has deployed at least 3000 fresh fighters to Aleppo. Iran’s large force commitment represents how strategically important the city of Aleppo is to the regime and its allies.
Despite a devastating five years of civil war, 300,000 civilians remain inside Aleppo. Aleppo is the largest city inside Syria and prior to the civil war served as the country’s commercial capital. Assad hopes to bleed rebels of any support, believing that by frequently targeting humanitarian, medical, and other aid facilities he can accelerate their surrender.
When the Iranian proxy fighters arrive at Aleppo, some of the fiercest fighting of the Syrian civil war is likely to take place. A spokesman for the Syrian rebel coalition told the Associated Press there were between 5000 and 8000 fighters on the rebel side alone. The regime indicated it was redeploying troops to the area, and Russian airstrikes on rebel positions are likely to commence soon.
The UN is warning the international community that nearly 2 million people may be effected by the fighting in Aleppo, and called it a “humanitarian disaster.” The organization pleaded for a 48 hour ceasefire to deliver humanitarian aid to effected civilians, but neither side has shown a willingness to comply with the call.
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