Major Iranian general makes surprise visit to Iraqi-Syrian border

YemenExtra

M.A.

The prominent Iranian commander of the Al-Quds Force, Major General Qassem Suleimani, made a surprise visit to the Iraqi-Syrian border this week in order to meet with military personnel from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd Al-Sha’abi), Liwaa Fatemiyoun, and Hezbollah.

General Suleimani’s visit to the Syrian government-held crossing in southeast Homs marks the first time the Al-Quds commander has reached Syria from Iraq’s Al-Anbar Governorate.

Unlike the Iraqi Army, the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (Iraqi paramilitary) are greatly influenced by Iran’s military; this is one of the reasons why General Suleimani is often seen in pictures with them in Iraq.

The Syrian government forces and their allies waged a vital offensive in the southeastern countryside of the Homs Governorate this month, targeting the occupied border-crossings into Iraq’s Al-Anbar Governorate.