Iran announces the killing of a first Iranian army soldier in battles in Syria

Tabank, an Iranian news site aligned with the Revolutionary Guards, reported: "The Iranian army sacrificed its first martyr," but did not specify where the officer was killed.

By MAAYAN GROISMAN
The Iranian army soldier killed, Mohsen Qitaslo (photo credit: ARAB MEDIA)
The Iranian army soldier killed, Mohsen Qitaslo
(photo credit: ARAB MEDIA)
The Iranian Special Forces sent to Syria in mid-March suffered their first loss Sunday, as one officer was killed during battles with Syrian opposition factions, news sites affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards reported Monday.
The Special Forces officer, Mohsen Qitaslo, fought within the ranks of Brigade 65 in the Iranian army, known as the "brigade of green berets."
Tabank, an Iranian news site aligned with the Revolutionary Guards, reported: "The Iranian army sacrificed its first martyr," but did not specify where the officer was killed.
The reports about the officer's death contradict previous declarations of the Iranian Army Ground Forces' Deputy Commander, who stated that the Special Forces that are sent to Syria will perform an advisory role and will not participate in the fighting.
On Wednesday, several Iranian news sites reported that the Iranian Special Forces arrived in al-Hader village in Aleppo's southern suburbs to prepare for their participation in battles aimed to recapture a number of villages in the region the Syrian regime has recently lost.
In mid-March, following the heavy losses inflicted on Hezbollah and the Revolutionary Guards in the battles against Syrian opposition factions over Aleppo, the Iranian army announced that it would send its Special Forces brigade to Syria, to reinforce its forces in Aleppo.