Iranian Appropriation of Syrian Defense Assets
Iran's growing involvement in the Syrian conflict, has naturally led to a growing Iranian military presence in Syria that is integrated with Syria's military facilities. According to western sources, Iran has divided Syria into five divisions and has over 13 military bases throughout the country.
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One of these bases known as the "Glass Building" (Maghar Shishe'i), located within the premises of Damascus International Airport is the headquarters of Iranian operations and the seat of the Command Council of Iran's forces in Syria.
In November 2017, the BBC revealed the construction of a permanent military base near El-Kiswah, south of Damascus. The base, located at a Syrian military site, was estimated to be for housing soldiers and vehicles. Satellite photos of the site taken over time showed rapid construction, demonstrating Iran's determination to establish its permanent presence in the region.
"This war requires commanders who can impose the will of the Iranian regime onto the enemies."
Ismail Qaani, then Deputy Commander of the Quds Force, November 2016
Other Iranian bases are scattered across Syria including in and around Aleppo, Hama, Latakia, Damascus and the Syria-Lebanon border. These bases are used for a number of purposes: as barracks, as well as for logistics, training and intelligence. Some may be used to facilitate the transfer of arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
