Russia, Iran Seen Coordinating on Defense of Assad Regime in Syria

[Purveyor]

U.S., regional officials say military buildup in coastal base aimed at safeguarding regime’s stronghold

By JAY SOLOMON in Washington and SAM DAGHER in Amman, Jordan
Updated Sept. 21, 2015 2:56 p.m. ET

Russia and Iran have stepped up coordination inside Syria as they move to safeguard President Bashar al-Assad’s control over his coastal stronghold, according to officials in the U.S. and Middle East, creating a new complication for Washington’s diplomatic goals.

Senior Russian and Iranian diplomats, generals and strategists have held a string of high-level talks in Moscow in recent months to discuss Mr. Assad’s defense and the Kremlin’s military buildup in Syria, according to these officials.

This included a secret visit in late July by the commander of Iran’s elite overseas military unit, the Qods Force. Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani directs Tehran’s military and intelligence support for the Assad regime and is one of the most powerful leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also visited Moscow last month to discuss Syria and other issues with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

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http://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-iran-seen-coordinating-on-defense-of-assad-regime-in-syria-1442856556

[writer not writing]

1. Good

We should get out of the region entirely and let the Russians and Iranians take on ISIS!