Putin – Iran alliance in support of Assad

Russian bombs are dropping in the Idlib Province on FSA controlled areas that are 50km away from ISIS controlled areas.

One question comes to mind: what is the reason behind the sudden changes and the joint front between Putin and the mullahs?

What has been obvious in recent years is the Iranian regime’s role in holding Assad in power; the role that Western countries have barely taken into consideration.

After the start of protests in Syria and the threat of the fall of Bashar Assad, the Iranian regime placed the Syria dossier in the hands of the Quds Force. At that time and under the pretext of visiting holy sites, the mullahs sent military and ground force advisors to Syria. During the past years, the most senior ranking Quds Force commanders have stationed in Syria in order to coordinate the battles there. The mullahs’ regime provides most of the Syrian government’s budget. Despite being sanctioned, Iran annually allocates $20 billion of its budget to the war in Syria. This clearly shows how much Syrian means to Iran.

In addition to weapons, Iran sends forces to Syria

In addition to weapons and ammunition, the Iranian regime sends military and ground force advisors to Syria to take part in the war there. These forces are from the IRGC and Iraqi militias affiliated to the Quds Force.

Until the end of 2014, some 100 IRGC forces were killed in Syria. This number doesn’t include the so-called Iranian “volunteers” that fight the war in Syria under the influence of the mullahs and Assad’s propaganda machine. In June 2015, the Iranian regime confirmed that Major General Hadi Kajbaf and 3 Quds Force soldiers were killed in a battle in Syria. They were given an official funeral by the state.

On the other hand, the terrorist Hezbollah organization has over 10,000 forces fighting for Assad in Syria. This terrorist organization is completely affiliated to Iran. Also, Iraqi militia groups have over 5,000 forces fighting in Syria to uphold the Assad regime. All these groups and forces are affiliated to the Quds Force.

During recent weeks, there has been a lot of news that hundreds of other Iranian soldiers have been dispatched to Syria. They intend to initiate ground attacks that follow Russian airstrikes in order to retake areas under the control of the Syrian opposition.

Based on information at hand, Moscow has planned a 3 to 4 month operation and this operation is to intensify. On the other hand, until 31 December, Russia will call some 147,100 men between the ages of 18 to 27 to service. This was a presidential order that was announced on Wednesday after the initiation of Russian airstrikes on Syria. Of course these two events are related.

Kremlin announced on Friday that its marines will be dispatched to Syria to guard its air bases. On the other hand, it has been reported that in the dark, complete military convoys of modern trucks with desert camouflage are entering a port in the Black Sea and they are routed towards Syria.

Russian ships are moving on a daily basis through the Bosfor strait towards Syria. The same ships return, yet they are completely empty. Specialists are talking about the creation of a “sea bridge” in order to fortify bases in the cities of Latekia and Tartus.

Both Iran and Russia have spent large sums of money on the war in Syria and they are still continuing their investment in this country. They are unable to let go of their programs in Syria. The question is that are Iran and Russia in cooperation?

Based on reports from Western intelligence agencies, on 24 July, commander of the Quds Force, Qassem Suleimani entered into Moscow. He returned to Tehran after two days. During his two day stay in Moscow, he met with top Russian military officials and Putin; a meeting that was denied by Kremlin.

Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani, who for years has been leading militia groups in Iraq, has been responsible for the death of some 500 US forces in Iraq. Iran tried to introduce him as “the most powerful man in the Middle East”.

The nuclear deal engulfs the flames of war in Syria

After the initiation of the nuclear deal, billions of dollars of Iran’s money will be released. As a result the mullahs will have a more open hand in advancing their destabilizing programs in the region.

The mullahs can purchase modern weapons with the money they receive and place those weapons in the hands of the terrorist Quds Force and Hezbollah forces in Syria. On the other hand, arms deals with Russia will boost the Russian economy. Therefore one can come to this conclusion that the nuclear deal signed between Obama and Iran, not only won’t prevent Iran’s destabilizing programs in the region, yet it will lead to the spread of terrorism in the Middle East. The West and Obama’s government will pay for the consequences.

Now one can come to the answer of the question raised at the beginning of the piece. The reason behind these changes and the intensification of the war in Syria is that Iran, after the nuclear deal, in which its ambitious plans were recognized by the US and European countries, will receive billions of dollars and it will have no obstacles in its path. On the other hand, Russia is stuck in a bad economic situation and is looking for the billions of dollars Iran has received from the nuclear deal in order to sign arms deals and boost its economy. Contrary to the remarks of Mr. Obama, the nuclear deal has not prevented war; rather it has engulfed the flames of war and terrorism in the Middle East.