Military Attaché: Iran to Continue Advisory Role in Syria

TEHRAN (Defapress)- One of the articles of a defense agreement signed by the defense ministers of the two countries pertained to continued presence of Iranian military advisors in Syria, General Alinejad said.

He added that the defense agreement between Iran and Syria was in line with the intention of both countries' leaders to expand bilateral relations.

Development and consolidation of defense ties between Tehran and Damascus will help peace and stability in the region, General Alinejad said, adding that supporting territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Syria has been underlined in the agreement as well.

Demining areas in different regions of Syria based on Iran's eight-year-long war experiences was another article in the agreement, he said, noting that during the war in Syria, a number of its defense ministry factories have been damaged which are due to be renovated in cooperation with Iran.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami paid a 2-day visit to Syria at the invitation of his Syrian counterpart.

General Hatami also met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In relevant remarks on Tuesday, General Hatami warned that the international war against Syria had not yet ended, stressing Damascus' right to respond to any aggression.

"Most Syrian territories are now under control by Damascus, (but) the war in Syria has not ended because some parts of the Syrian lands are still occupied by the terrorists and militants," General Hatami said in an interview with the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen news channel.

"The Syrian government is entitled to respond to any aggression as it did in the past," the Iranian defense minister said.

Elsewhere, he elaborated on a defense agreement signed with Damascus during his current visit to the country, and said that it paves the ground for renovation of Syria's military industries.

Asked about Iran's military advisory role in Syria, General Hatami said, "The Iranian forces' presence in Syria is at the demand of Damascus and no third country is entitled to opine on this issue."

Tehran and Damascus signed an agreement on Sunday to broaden defense cooperation during a visit by General Hatami who has emphasized Iran's commitment to the Arab country's security.

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