TEHRAN – Syrian President Beshar al-Assad considers Qods Force chief General Qassem Soleimani as a “paragon of salvation” and also as a commander who causes fear in the heart of the enemy, the Iranian ambassador to Damascus says, ISNA reported on Sunday.

Mohammad Reza Sheibani said when Syria was in a very difficult situation and the country, including the capital Damascus, was about to fall into the hands of terrorist groups General Soleimani was the most “important person” who “saved” Syria.

On the activities of the 4+1 coalition, Ambassador Sheibani said, “The 4+1 coalition means cooperation between the four countries of Iran, Russia, Syria, Iraq plus the Lebanese Hezbollah for destroying terrorism in Syria.

In this coalition Syria is the main player because all the activities are done in the Syrian territory and the country’s military forms the muscle of the coalition, the ambassador noted, adding Hezbollah has also dispatched forces to Syria for supporting the army.

The veteran diplomat said Iraq which itself is at war with terrorists has in fact no direct military presence in Syria and it only gives advices so that it can use these strategies in the war against terrorists when they are purged from the Syrian territory.

On the role of Iran and Russia in Syria, he said Iranian commanders, as military advisors, give training to Syrian army troops and resistance forces and Russia has also sent fighter jets to support forces on the ground.