"Around 7,000 Iranian and Iraqi fighters have arrived in Syria over the past few weeks and their first priority is the defense of the capital. The larger contingent is Iraqi," the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The AFP report quoted the source as saying the aim was to bring 10,000 troops to support the Syrian army and pro-government militias.
Iranian top military commander Qasem Soleimani confirmed the deployment to Iran's official news agency IRNA, saying “in coming days, the world will be surprised by what we are preparing, in cooperation with Syrian military leaders.”
Iran has been a loyal ally of the Syrian government and stood by Damascus throughout the conflict that began in March 2011 with anti-regime protests. An estimated 220,000 people have been killed in the crisis.
Rebel groups and ISIS have independently handed the Assad regime a series of recent defeats and have both threatened to storm the capital.
Iran has also played a key role in Iraq's war with the Islamic State, providing troops, supplies and advisers. The most effective fighting force in Iraq are the Shiite militias known collectively as Hashd al-Shaabi. Many of these militias have direct links to Iran.
The Assad government is predominantly of the Alawite faith, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.
.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
