Baku, Azerbaijan, July 12
By Emil Ilgar – Trend:
The Lebanese Hezbollah’s expertise is being used in training the forces that will be used on ground in Syria as part of the Iran-backed Fatemioun Brigade.
The Fatemioun forces recently finished a series of advanced training courses, which included sharpshooting, Tasnim news agency reported July 12.
The training courses were held in Syria in coordination with the Syrian Army and the trainers were Afghan officers who had passed sharpshooting courses under the Hezbollah.
Tasnim adds that hundreds of snipers are being dispatched across Syria to help Syrian forces against terrorists.
It goes on to say that in the near future other groups of Fatemioun are expected to undergo commando training courses, trainings on using shoulder-launched missiles, anti-armor rocket launching, etc.
Following the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, Iran set up Zeinabioun brigade of Pakistani Shia nationals and the Fatemioun brigade of Afghan Shia fighters to support President Bashar Assad’s government.
Iranian officials have constantly denied that their servicemen have boots on the ground in Syria, saying the officers of the Islamic Republic are in Syria as advisers at official request from Damascus.