TEHRAN – Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari predicted on Monday that the terrorist groups in Syria will sustain great losses in coming days.

Russian strikes against militants helped Syrian forces reclaim territory over the weekend and on Monday, dealing a fresh setback to groups supported by Turkey and the United States, Reuters reported.

“We will witness great victories in Syria in the next few days,” Jafari said, addressing a ceremony in the western city of Hamadan held to commemorate the martyred IRGC Commander General Hossein Hamadani who was killed in northern Syria on Thursday while on an advisory mission.

The security of Western Asia, including Iran, is dependent on Syria and the resistance front, Jafari said. “We should support this front with all our power” and warned that the “arrogant powers in the region are after overthrowing the ruling system in Syria to extend their influence in the Muslim states.”

The IRGC announced in a statement on October 9 that Hamedani had been killed by ISIL terrorists during an advisory mission on the outskirts of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Hamedani’s body was repatriated to Iran on Friday night and was buried in the western city of Hamedan, his birthplace, on Monday.

The IRGC commander had been sent to Syria as a military adviser for the Syrian army in its fight against terrorist groups. Hamedani had also played a leading role in establishing resistance groups in Syria.

MD/P