Ali Shamkhani speaks with journalists during a news conference at the Defence Ministry in Tehran August 9, 2005. Iran. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl MN/KI – RTRJZFP
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said that his country is providing “advisory help” for Syria in the fight against terrorism at the request of the Damascus government and stressed that this help will continue.
“We will stay in Syria and fight against terrorism as long as the legitimate Syrian government would make such request,” Shamkhani said during an interview with Tasnim News, which was published on February 23.
When he was asked about Israeli military strikes on Syria, Shamkhani said that such attacks “serve the interests of terrorists.” The Iranian official added that Israel has “crossed the red line” by targeting the equipment and forces of Iran and its allies in Syria and vowed to respond to any similar attacks in the future.
“We severely responded to the [Israeli] attack on T-4 [airbase in Syria] and dealt a heavy blow to them [Israelis]. We have made arrangements to protect our red line in the area of human casualties caused by any act of aggression and invasion,” said Shamkhani.
Seven Iranian military advisors were killed in the Israeli strike on the T-4 airbase in April of last year. Back then, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Syrian Army (SAA) responded by launching dozens of heavy rockets at positions of the Israeli military in the occupied Golan Heights.
According to Shamkhani, Iran has been successfully working with the SAA and its other allies to prevent human casualties in the Israeli attacks. The official also revealed that Iran is working to upgrade the deterrent power of “resistance” in Syria.
Shamkhani went on to say that the Israeli attacks have failed to block the achievements of the so called “axis of resistance” in Syria.
“We have accomplished more than 90 percent of our objectives. Thus, the Israeli punitive strikes (on Syria) have had no strategic impact and the resistance has pressed ahead with its activities,” he added.
Shamkhani’s remarks reflects Iran’s commitment to its allies in Damascus. Recently, the U.S. began pressuring both sides military, economically and politically in order to drive them apart. However, this strategy has been a failure.
