IRGC Dismisses Rumors of Death of 15 Iranian Nationals in Syria


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Public Relations Department quashed rumors that 15 Iranians have been martyred in Syria during 24 hours ending Friday night.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency on Friday, General Ramezan Sharif said the viral report in the cyberspace that 15 Iranians have been martyred in Syria over the past 24 hours while defending the holy Shiite sites in the Arab country are completely false.

The general noted that only two Iranians, named Karimi and Abdullah Baqeri, the personnel of the IRGC’s Ansar-ul-Mahdi corps, have been martyred in Syria while protecting the holy Shiite shrines.

Iran, a close ally of Syria, has been supporting the legitimate Syrian government in the fight against terrorists.

Tehran has already made it clear that its assistance to Syria is confined to consultation and advisory help.

Back on October 8, top IRGC commander, Major General Hossein Hamedani, was martyred while in an advisory mission in Syria.

A one-time commander during the 8-year Iraqi imposed war on Iran in the 1980s, Major General Hamedani was a senior military advisor that played a “decisive role in the protection of the holy shrine of Sayyida Zeinab (AS)” against terrorist attacks, the IRGC said in a statement.

The shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, a sister of the third Shiite Imam (AS), is located in Damascus.