Iran has warned the United States against taking advantage of the dramatic situation in Syria, and has sent hints about the possibility that it will send "advisory" forces from the Revolutionary Guards to Aleppo if developments on the ground require it, the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Sunday.
Iran's Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), quoted Iranian President Masoud Pazakhian as telling lawmakers: "We hope that the countries of the region will not allow America and Israel to take advantage of the internal conflict of any Islamic country."
Last night (Sunday), it was reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed Israel and the United States for the escalation in the civil war in Syria, which began last Wednesday. In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Araqchi described the recent actions of the rebels against the Assad regime as part of a "Zionist-American" plan aimed at destabilizing the West Asian region.
The civil war in Syria began as part of the wave of protests in the Arab world, the "Arab Spring," in 2011 – and continues to this day. This is an ongoing conflict between the forces loyal to the Baath government headed by President Bashar al-Assad and those who seek to overthrow the Assad regime.
The conflict expanded over time as the Kurds, jihadists and the Islamic State entered the civil war in Syria. Forces affiliated with the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization and foreign countries also joined the campaign, and over the years the conflict has known ups and downs.
* Channel 14 contributed to this article.
