Amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes, Iran's deputy minister says Tehran to help Syria boost air defenses

A senior Iranian defense official has reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to the security of friendly countries, saying the Islamic Republic considers itself “obliged” to help reinforce Syria’s air defense capabilities in repelling Israeli attacks on the Arab country.

Brigadier General Hamzeh Qalandari, deputy defense minister for international affairs, made the remarks on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the International Mine Awareness Day and Assistance in Mine Action in the capital, Tehran, on Tuesday.

“We find ourselves committed to help friendly countries, like Syria, improve their air defenses and fend off aerial attacks,” he said, as he talked about the export of defense products at the event.

The deputy defense minister further noted that Syria used to be a “defenseless” country in the face of Israeli aerial attacks in the past, but now Damascus is repelling a large number of air strikes carried out by the occupying Israeli regime.

Elsewhere in his remarks, General Qalandari stated that Iran has assisted many of its neighbors and friendly countries “not only in terms of equipment and arms, but also in the field of technology of manufacturing military equipment.”

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Iran may enhance Syria

He also highlighted the growing interest in the purchase of Iranian military and defense equipment, saying “After the removal of a UN arms embargo against Iran in 2020, we are witnessing many countries that seek to employ Iranian weapons."

The Israeli regime frequently violates Syrian sovereignty by targeting military positions inside the country, especially those of the resistance movement Hezbollah, which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

Syria's official SANA news agency quoted an unnamed military source as saying that the Israeli regime had launched a fresh missile strike against Syria, this time targeting positions in the vicinity of the country's capital city of Damascus.

The new missile attack was carried out early Tuesday from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, and in addition to Damascus, hit some other areas in the southern part of the country.

The military source added that the country's air defenses intercepted Israeli missiles, shooting down most of them. The attack, however, left two civilians dead and caused some material damage.

Syrian military: Two civilians killed in fresh Israeli missile strike against Damascus

The Israeli regime

Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has warned Israel against the consequences of these attacks, saying such hostile policies will lead to insecurity and instability in the region.

Israel mostly keeps quiet about its attacks on the Syrian territories, which many view as a knee-jerk reaction to Syrian government’s increasing success in confronting terrorism.

The Tel Aviv regime has been a main supporter of terrorist groups that have battled the government of President Bashar al-Assad since foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria in early 2011.

Syrian has repeatedly complained to the UN over Israeli assaults, urging the Security Council to take action against Tel Aviv’s crimes. The calls have, however, fallen on deaf ears.

Iran and Syria signed a comprehensive agreement to enhance their cooperation in the military and defense sectors in July 2020.

Iran's top cmdr., Syria's defense minister sign agreement to boost military, security cooperation

Iran and Syria sign a comprehensive agreement to boost military and defense cooperation.

Back in February, Iranian and Syrian military officials agreed on the delivery of missile systems to Damascus to boost the Arab country's air defenses amid increased Israeli air raids.  

Iran was the first country to rush to Syria's assistance following the outbreak of the foreign-backed violence in the Arab country.

Back in 2017, military advisory assistance provided by the Islamic Republic helped the Arab nation score a monumental victory over the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.  

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