Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Iranian state media sources have reported the death of Asghar Bashpour on the front lines of fighting in Aleppo province, which renewed days ago as Turkish-backed Syrian jihadists poured into the countryside around the major northern city. The Syrian Army has also been on a major offensive against al-Qaeda’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to retake neighboring Idlib province.
Crucially, Bashpour was an elite commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force who is said to have been close to its slain leader Qassem Soleimani. The news was announced by Tehran Radio and then circulated among various Middle East sources, including The Times of Israel on Monday. His death occurred Sunday while reportedly supporting military operations of pro-Assad forces.
Blurry photo circulating of Iran’s Quds Force senior commander Asghar Pashapour, far left., also with slain Gen. Qassem Soliemani (2nd from right), via IRIB/Al Arabiya.
Israel has long claimed that Iranian entrenchment inside Syria is ultimately aimed at harming Israeli security and interests. Over the past years the Israeli Air Force has conducted hundreds of incursions and strikes inside Syria, against what Tel Aviv describes as Iranian proxies and troops.
The Times of Israel describes the newly slain Asghar Bashpour and friend of Soleimani as follows:
He is said to have been at the forefront of the Quds Force’s operations against anti-regime rebels in Syria, where Iran has been a key backer of President Bashar Assad since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
Regional sources say he was senior commander in the Quds Force responsible for overseeing all Iran-backed special operations in Syria. State-run IRIB news agency describes that Pashapour was “one of the first to go to Syria with Qassem Soleimani.”
بسم رب الشهداء و الصدیقین
استشهاد القائد اصغر پاشاپور من قوات الحرس الثوري الایراني فی ریف حلب
الرحمه لروحه الطاهره
لم يقوى على الفراق ؛ فإلتحق بالقاسم..?
أصغر باشابور شهيد ? pic.twitter.com/UG09IqZ1Jk— Moussawi (@am52918699) February 3, 2020
Beirut-based Syrian war monitor al-Masdar News, among few outlets to have sources within the Syrian Army, described that the IRGC elite commander likely died fighting the terrorist group Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP):
The location of Bashpour’s death in Aleppo was not reported; however, it is likely that he was either killed at the IRGC base in Nayrab (southern Aleppo), which has been targeted by militant missiles, or the Khan Touman front, where the jihadist rebels of the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) launched a counter-offensive against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Local Defense Forces (LDF).
As we detailed earlier, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have in recent days and weeks mounted new insurgent attacks on the outskirts of the provincial capital city of Aleppo at a moment the Syrian Army has made huge gains into neighboring Idlib.
A key reason Damascus has vowed to retake every inch of Idlib is that for years al-Qaeda has launched terrorist attacks on suburbs of Aleppo from there as civilians and the government attempt to rebuild the largely destroyed urban center.
Asghar Pashapour, left, a top commander in Iran’s Quds Force.
This latest renewed fighting in Aleppo appears a concerted effort by Turkey to use its proxy forces to repel and distract the brunt of the Syrian Army offensive on Idlib, considering on Friday President Erdogan warned he’s ready to use military force if Assad doesn’t halt Idlib operations.
On Monday rare direct clashes broke out between the Syrian and Turkish armies which killed an estimated 50 people, including Turkish troops, though the numbers on each side are currently in dispute.
and behind both of these assassinations you will find mossad directly or indirectly involved and that is precisely why the illegal settlement called israel needs to be destroyed and the jews kicked to oblivion. nothing else will foster a stable peace in he middle east.
Exactly true ! Tel Aviv Inc & its forces should go the same way as the “Beirut Barracks”,1983.Blown into orbit & never to return !
And who will do that, junior, you?
Well, get fitted for your suicide vest already and do more than spout from your bug infested coach. But do practice a lot.
RIP warrior knight..
Either everyone else is small or hes a man mountain.
If Erdogan goes ahead with his ‘military force’, he will escalate the problems for both the Syrian and Russian admin. That won’t be looked on too kindly. Mistakes will be made. The Russian people are still smarting over the Russian pilot lost some time ago to Turkish weapons. Erdogan certainly believes in pushing his luck. His troops and proxy troops are in Syria without an invite. They may yet find themselves fair game for Russian forces.
The isreali regime can wheel out their many talking heads but we all know they are known liars. If it were not for US/nato/isreal/saudi trained and supplied terrorists sent to destroy Syria, the IRGC wouldn’t even be there. Iran is merely helping a neighbour with an infestation problem before it becomes their problem. Ditto with Iraq.
RIP, I hope his successor will be even better/more efficient
And also get killed like top Islamist Iranian generals seem to have a habit of doing of late.
As Saker pointed out, unlike high ranking U.S. officers, the equivalent IRGC officers put themselves in the front line. While it hurts when one of them dies in combat they probably have more depth then most other services. At this point in time, does Israel have any field tested officers other than maybe a few pilots?
Such an unhealthy state of mind, it’s always about us. Yes, Israel, fighting Al Qaeda in the northern border to keep Turkey from grabbing your territory from and unhinged Erdogan is a plot against you. If the U.S. was actually a friend of Israel instead of a codependent enabler, we might try to talk them down once in while instead of giving them more Meth.
rip warrior heros :(
You’re getting to say that a lot lately. Many more on the way so you can cut and past your post.
Another one bites te dust, rest in shit.
Damn, those top Islamist Iranian generals are falling like flies. YEH!!!