Sunni Insurgents: We Exchange 5 Abducted Border Guards for 300 Prisoners

The Head of the elite Qods Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Qassem Suleimani, has declared:

Although today a number of Islamic countries claim leadership of the Islamic world and make efforts for it in continuation of previous movements, but no country other than Iran can take this dangerous responsibility.

Soleimani spoke on Friday at the first anniversary of the memorial for Quds Force commander Hassan Shateri, killed in Syria by a strike on a convoy travelling to Lebanon.

Soleimani, denouncing the promotion of Iranian nationalism as a “lie”, asserted: “Supporting Islamic and revolutionary fighters, as well as defending Muslims and Islam against the assaults that take place against the Islamic world, have allowed Iran to take leadership….It is unlikely for another country other than Iran to take on such a role because [other] Islamic countries do not have this capacity in their foundation.”

The commander said the Islamic Republic will triumph over “the intense hostility of the system’s enemies…becoming more visible because the greatness of the revolution and the Islamic system is increasing daily”.

Soleimani’s declaration was complemented by the Supreme Leader’s military advisor, Yahya Rahim Safavi, “Iraq, Lebanon and Syria are under Iranian influence. These (Americans) cannot fight the power of this influence because this influence is a soft influence (of) political and cultural power.”

(hat tip to Iran Tracker for translations)


Sunni Insurgents: We Exchange 5 Abducted Border Guards for 300 Prisoners

The Sunni insurgency Jaish ul-Adl has demanded the release of 300 Sunni prisoners, including 50 of its members, in exchange for five Iranian border guards whom they abducted last week.

Among the 300 are 50 Sunni women whom Jaish ul-Adl alleges are being held by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards troops in Syria.

Iranian officials believe the kidnapped guards have been taken into Pakistan.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of Parliament’s National Security Commission, rejected the demands: “If there is any need for negotiating, the Pakistani government will have to decide on it.”

Parliamentary Advisor Praises Iranian Reconstruction of Syria’s Militias

Hossein Sheikholeslam, the Speaker of Parliament’s advisor on foreign affairs, has reasserted Iran’s role in training Syrian militias to defend the Assad regime:

Of course we prefer negotiations, but will not neglect operational work for an instant. Thanks to God we are successful in the field and it is natural that we are continuously successful at the negotiations table. One of the operational examples of the Islamic Revolution’s extended models in Syria is to reconstruct the Basij Organization.