(Asharq Al-Awsat-UK) Nadia Al-Turki - Iranian authorities claim the 48 Iranians taken hostage by the Free Syrian Army are religious pilgrims. However, Iranian opposition figure Dowlat Norouzi told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the information coming from Iranian opposition sources is that the commander, deputy commander and head of artillery of the IRGC Martyrs Forces, as well as a number of operational and intelligence officers based out of the IRGC Hamza base [in northwestern Iran]...are among the 48 captured Iranians." The IRGC officers were in Syria to actively participate in field operations, their role was not limited to training or consulting, and they were armed upon arrival in the country, Iranian opposition sources said.
2012-08-14 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive