Jun. 2, 2017

• Iran’s Foreign Legion in Syria – Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah
  The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have formed, trained and sent to Syria 42 brigades and 138 battalions of regional Shiite forces to defend the Assad regime. These forces include Lebanese Hizbullah, the Afghan Fatimiyoun and Khadem el-‘Aqila Brigades, the Pakistani Zainebiyoun Brigade, Yemeni Houthis, and Iraqi Shiite militias. These military units receive their salaries and equipment from Iran and are coordinated by the Quds Division of the Revolutionary Guards, commanded by Qasem Soleimani. The writer was formerly Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence. (Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)