ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Since the start of the war against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria Iran has been leading militia groups in both countries and that many Afghans have been recruited to fight for the Syrian regime, a commander of the Revolutionary Guards has told his country’s media.
Iran “created the Shia liberation army in Syria under the leadership of Qassem Soleimani,” General Mohammed Ali Falaki who leads Iranian forces in Syria told Mashregh News, a media outlet close to the Revolutionary Guards on Thursday.
“This army now fights on three fronts in Iraq, Syria and Yemen,” Gen. Falaki said.
Falaki explained that Iran’s aim is to train, supply and instruct these groups.
“The forces that belong to this army are not Iranians only, but in any place where there is a fight we organize, and supply the army from the people of the area,” and “It is not wise for our Iranian forces to be directly thrown into war in Syria, therefore our role should be limited to train, supply, and prepare the Syrians to fight in their areas.”
Falaki who leads part of the Iranian revolutionary guards to help Bashar Assad’s forces against rebel groups in Syria, maintained that the long-term goal behind creating the Shiite militias in Syria was to target Israel.
“The main goal in the creation of the first generation of the Shia liberation army is to erase Israel in 23 years, which is now on its border.” Falaki told Mashregh News.
The Iranian General who is a veteran of the Iran –Iraq war criticizes Tehran for not recruiting Afghan fighters for the Syrian war and creating a force from them like the Lebanese Hezbollah and in Yemen.
Falaki confirmed recent reports that Iran has recruited undocumented Afghan migrants of the Shiite faith and sent them to battle in Syria.
“The Fatmiyon Afghan militia in Syria receive $100 in return for their volunteer fight,” Gen. Falaki said. “They volunteer to fight for nothing in return.”
The general lamented that his army does not enjoy good relations with the Afghan fighters due to a historical negative perception Iranians have had of Afghans.
“The revolutionary guards still face problems for not having brotherly and good relations with Afghanis, because of the inferior perception that Iranian have of Afghans,” he explained.
