IRGC commander vows to protect Iranian advisers in Syria after Israeli PM's threat

The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has vowed to protect Iranian military advisers in Syria, dismissing as "ridiculous and funny" Israeli threats to attack them.

News ID: 443047

Date: 18 January 2019 - 17:35

RNA - "We will protect all of the military advisors as well as weapons and equipment that we have deployed to Syria in order to reinforce the Islamic resistance fighters and support the people of this Islamic country," Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said Wednesday.

The remarks came in response to fresh threats by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Tuesday that Israel "won't stop attacking" Iranian military advisors in Syria unless they evacuate the country.

Iran has been supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government purging foreign-backed terrorist groups from the country.

Israel views the Islamic Republic’s advisors in Syria as a threat and has openly pledged to target them out until they leave the country.

The Israeli air force has staged repeated air raids against Syrian military bases that it claims are used by Iranian military advisors.

"Rest assured that your ridiculous threat means nothing to us," Jafari said of Netanyahu's words.

He noted there was a reason Iran remained patient in the face of Israel's "desperate measures" in Syria, warning Netanyahu that he would soon find out what that reason is.

"Just beware that you are twisting the lion's tail," the general said. "Fear the day that Iranian precision-guided missiles come down on your head roaring, and avenge all the blood that you have shed from the oppressed Muslims in the region."

Netanyahu 'biting off more than he can chew'

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi also reacted to the Israeli premier's remarks, warning him and other officials in Tel Aviv against testing Iran's patience.

"We will teach them how to talk and walk if necessary," he said.

Qassemi called Netanyahu's threats "pointless propaganda" and said, "he would have resolved the Israeli-Palestinian conflict if he could do anything."

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