Iran Ready to 'Train' Syria Army, Condemns Israeli Airstrike
Iran is ready to help "train" the Syrian army if Damascus seeks such assistance, the commander of the Islamic republic's army ground forces, General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, was quoted as saying on Sunday.
"As a Muslim nation, we back Syria, and if there is need for training we will provide them with the training, but won't have any active involvement in the operations," he said in remarks reported by the official IRNA news agency.
"The Syrian army has accumulated experience during years of conflict with the Zionist regime (Israel) and is able to defend itself and doesn't need foreign assistance," he added.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman also condemned an Israeli airstrike in Syria on an alleged shipment of Iranian-made missiles.
Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted by the semiofficial Fars news agency as denouncing the attack on the missiles, which were believed en route to Hizbullah.
It's the first Iranian comments since Israel launched a first round of airstrikes on Friday, then another round on Sunday.
Mehmanparast urged countries in the region to remain united against Israel, but gave no other suggestions of possible further action in response.
Source: Agence France Presse, Associated Press
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