Iranian Troops Will Stay in Syria under New Pact; Back Syrian Army Despite Israeli Strikes on Them

Iran's military attache to Damascus said yesterday that the country's military advisers would remain in Syria under a defense agreement signed this week, the Times of Israel website reports today (August 29, 2018).

"The continued presence of Iran's advisers in Syria is one of the areas covered in the defensive-technical agreement between Tehran and Damascus," said Brigadier General Abolghasem Alinejad. 

Teheran has provided steady  political, financial, and military backing to Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has been involved in an ongoing civil war -- now in its seventh year.

Israel has vowed not to let Iran maintain a military presence in Syria and has carried out dozens of strikes in the country in order to keep Iranian forces out of Syria.