Iran May Be Gearing Up for a Major Offensive in Syria

Russia’s current involvement in Syria certainly seemed to catch Western observers off guard. It was only a few weeks ago that the construction of Russia’s air base in Lakatia was being hinted at by the media. Now we’re witnessing an extensive air campaign against ISIS affiliated forces (or Syrian freedom fighters depending on which propaganda outlet you listen to) as Russia tries to reestablish its military as a formidable player on the global stage.

Make no mistake though, this isn’t the new normal. This conflict is still very fluid, and major developments seem to be emerging every week, the latest of which involves Iran’s ground forces in Syria. It’s no secret that Hezbollah units, guided by Iranian advisers, have been acting as Russia’s boots on the ground. Until recently however, they’ve been keeping a low profile. That’s about to change in a very big way as Iran shifts away from an advisory role, to taking direct action in the conflict with conventional forces.

Thousands of Iranian troops have arrived in Syria in recent days, as forces loyal to President Assad prepare a major assault on rebel-held territory in Aleppo. The Syrian government, bolstered by the new arrivals and two weeks of intense Russian airstrikes on rebel positions, is determined to win back territory around the country’s biggest city, and once its commercial hub.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency, unnamed officials said that troops from Iran, along with Syrian soldiers and fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, were preparing an attack on the war-ravaged city.

“The big battle preparations in that area are clear,” said one of the officials. “There is a large mobilisation of the Syrian army… elite Hezbollah fighters, and thousands of Iranians who arrived in stages in recent days.” Some unconfirmed reports suggested that initial exchanges with rebel groups were already under way. Last week, the Syrian army launched another major offensive against rebels in Hama province.

If true, this is a bombshell development in the Syrian War. Not only does it reveal Iran’s commitment to bolstering Assad in spite of their sanction negotiations with the West, it says a lot about Russia’s broad strategy.

Since Russia’s air campaign began, most of their airstrikes appeared to be concentrated against the Al-Qaeda linked group known as al-Nusra, which is also affiliated with the Free Syrian Army. This latest development suggests that Russia and Iran may be preparing to pivot their combined air and ground forces against the city of Aleppo, which while hotly contested by all factions in the country, has traditionally been a FSA stronghold.

So what does this say about Russia’s strategy? It means that they’re focusing on the little guys first. They’re mopping up the small factions that are closest to Assad’s territory, one at a time. This will give Assad some breathing room, and help him reconsolidate his power. Once all those tiny factions are out of the way, Russian, Syrian, and Iranian forces will be able put all of their efforts into a final campaign into the heart of ISIS territory.

So stay tuned. The war against America’s proxy forces in Syria is about to get very interesting.

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Contributed by Joshua Krause of The Daily Sheeple.

Joshua Krause is a reporter, writer and researcher at The Daily Sheeple. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and is a freelance writer and author. You can follow Joshua’s reports at Facebook or on his personal Twitter. Joshua’s website is Strange Danger .