Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Iran Mobilizes 4,000 New Fighters, Hezbollah Recruits Child Soldiers in Syria | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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© George Ourfalian, AFP | Syrian army soldiers walk around Kweyris military airport in the eastern Aleppo province on October 16, 2015


Riyadh – Four thousand Iranian fighters arrived in Aleppo last week to join the 80,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Afghani forces in Syria.

Member of the delegation of the High Negotiations Committee (NHC) Assad al-Zubi declared that Iran is trying to cover up its losses by mobilizing new members.

He added that the so-called Hezbollah had recruited a number of child soldiers to partake in the combat as well.

Zubi told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that he received news confirming the arrival of 4,000 Iranian fighters to Aleppo. He explained that the fighters were being trained south of Damascus and the majority of them are Iranian or Afghans carrying the Iranian nationality.

He explained that Iran is resorting to recruiting new members to cover its losses which it prefers to keep undisclosed.

He added that the latest statistics confirm that 80,000 IRGC and Afghan Forces members were brought to Syria in addition to a number of Iraqi fighters.

“It’s about time the international community has said its word to fight Iran and its supporters like Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the terrorist Hezbollah,” he added.

Regarding the political transition, Zubi said it is not a new idea but it has been dealt with.

He explained that the former deal included the vision of NHC for a political solution. He added that NHC presented the vision to U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva.

Zubi explained that certain parts of the document needed explanations and consultations with other countries. After than that, the document was ready to clarify the proposed political solution.

The document, prepared by Syrian experts, includes the reconstruction and national reconciliation process and has been widely supported by Syrians and militant factions.

Zubi explained that this indicates that the proposed solution is accepted by all.

“It is expected to have a unanimous vote on the proposed solution at the end of August to begin the political transformation process. De Mistura is currently holding meetings with foreign ministers of the EU which means there is a need to invest time in preparing for any new movement and continue negotiating all articles of that document,” Zubi told Asharq Al-Awsat.