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Source: http://jcpa.org/cracks-iran-syria-hizbullah-russia-axis/
Cracks in the Iran-Syria-Hizbullah-Russia Axis
(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall - Reports from Syria are proliferating about clashes between the Syrian army and Hizbullah fighters in the Aleppo area on June 16, with 7 or 8 Hizbullah men killed, some after an attack by Syrian aircraft. (This week Hizbullah announced more than 20 of its fighters died in clashes with Syrian rebels near Aleppo.) Iran and Hizbullah are not happy about Russia's stepped-up efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis. Iran and Russia disagree more and more on Syria's future. The possibility of losing a sphere of influence and operational activity in Syria, mainly because of the growing Russian interest, is deeply troubling to Iran. A memorial ceremony was held for 13 Iranian Revolutionary Guards fighters killed (and dozens were wounded) in the battle of Khan Touman in the Aleppo area on May 6, 2016. That clash is considered one of Iran's heaviest defeats in Syria at the hands of Jabhat al-Nusra and other rebel groups.