Iranian lawmaker Javad Ghoddusi Karimi has reportedly confirmed there are "hundreds" of Iranian troops in Syria fighting on the side of embattled President Bashar al-Assad.
Iran's ISNA news agency reported on November 4 that Karimi, a member of parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said that "Syrian commanders, backed by Iranian forces, are announcing the army's victories against rebel fighters."
Reports about Karimi's comments came the same day Iran's Mehr news agency reported the death of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Jamalizadeh Paghaleh.
Iranian media reported that Paghaleh was killed last week in Syria by "Wahhabi terrorists."
IRGC spokesman General Ramazan Sharif rejected Karimi's statements, saying "Iran has only advisers in Syria to transfer its military experience to the Syrian army."
Iran's ISNA news agency reported on November 4 that Karimi, a member of parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said that "Syrian commanders, backed by Iranian forces, are announcing the army's victories against rebel fighters."
Reports about Karimi's comments came the same day Iran's Mehr news agency reported the death of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Jamalizadeh Paghaleh.
Iranian media reported that Paghaleh was killed last week in Syria by "Wahhabi terrorists."
IRGC spokesman General Ramazan Sharif rejected Karimi's statements, saying "Iran has only advisers in Syria to transfer its military experience to the Syrian army."