Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 28
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
A high-ranking general of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Hamid Taghavi, was killed in Iraq, the Fars news agency reported Dec. 28 citing the IRGC Public Relations Department.
Taghavi was reportedly killed during a mission in the city of Samara.
IRGC said that its member was in Iraq for military advice to the Iraqi army in fights against the terrorist organization known as the "Islamic State" (IS, formerly ISIL or ISIS).
Taghavi was one of the IRGC commanders during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988).
He will be buried Dec. 30 in his hometown of Ahwaz in southwest Iran.
The IS was created in 2003 in Iraq. Following the start of military confrontation in Syria between the armed opposition and the government forces, the IS penetrated the country in 2013.
Strengthening of the IS in Syria allowed it to return to Iraq, deploying military actions against government forces there.
Some western and Iraqi media have underscored the significant role of Iranian forces in fighting against the IS.
The media reports say Iranian forces have a decisive presence on the battlefield of the fight.
Meanwhile Iranian officials said the Islamic Republic gives only advice and organizational structure to the Iraqi forces.
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