Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran confirmed that Mohammad Moradi, a member of Iranian Army has been killed in armed clashes with Syrian opposition groups near Aleppo.
Moradi was a third lieutenant dispatched to Syria from the Army Ground Force’s 22nd Artillery Group, the official Mizan news agency reported Aug. 3.
He reportedly is the first non-special forces officer from the Army, who has been killed in Syria.
Moradi, alongside with eight other members of the 22nd Artillery Group, had been deployed to Syria for a 45-day mission.
The 30-year old Moradi was buried in Esfahan city, central Iran.
Iranian officials have constantly said that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) provides the Syrian army with advisory support in fight against terrorist groups. However, for the first time in early April reports broke regarding the involvement of Iranian Army commandos in Syria.
The Islamic Republic views the Syrian regime as its main strategic ally in the region, as well as a part of the "axis of resistance" against Israel.
Tehran has always expressed support for the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.