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Source: http://news.trust.org/item/20161103141538-03em9/
Israel: Iran Commands 25,000 Shi'ite Fighters in Syria
(Reuters) Luke Baker - Iran commands a "foreign legion" of 25,000 Shi'ite Muslim militants in Syria, mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, Avi Dichter, former head of the Israel Security Agency, told members of the Swiss parliament in Jerusalem on Wednesday. "They are fighting in Syria only against the rebels and not against ISIS." In Syria, Iran also has the support of the Lebanese militia Hizbullah, which has suffered 1,600 killed, he said. Dichter said Israel was convinced Iran had not abandoned its nuclear aspirations but only put them on hold, playing a long game against the West. "Two thousands years ago, Iran was an empire and now it wants to recreate that."