Syria expels Iran’s Quds Force commander
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The prominent leader of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria, Brigadier General Jawad Ghafari left Syria on Monday after completing his missions there.
Iranian media sources said Ghafari, also known as the “Butcher of Aleppo”, was expelled from Syria due to differences with Russia.
Yesterday, informed sources told the Iranian opposition Radio Farda website that a dispute between Jawad Ghafari and the Russian forces present in Syria led to his expulsion from Syria.
Ghafari asked the Russians to be present in some military bases held by Iran, to prevent Israeli attacks on his forces, which Russia rejected, according to the website.
Some press reports pointed out that Russian officers said the only way to prevent Israeli attacks is the withdrawal of Iranian forces from the sites, and their complete handover to the Russians, which Ghafari rejected.
Although Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh denied the news, saying that Ghafari’s mission in Syria has ended, it appears that Assad is no longer willing to allow Iranian forces to remain on Syrian soil, according to a report published by the Persian-language Independent website.
News websites stated that Ghafari’s deportation necessarily means that Iran has started a new phase in Syria that is different from the previous phase in terms of tools of penetration and influence.
Iran replaced hard power with soft power, and it paved the way for that months ago, after it opened a consulate in Aleppo, and showed more interest in vital sectors other than the military sector, according to what observers say.