Major General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IGRC), has asserted that plans are being made by Damascus and Tehran in regard to the Syrian civil war that will “surprise” the world.

“The world will be surprised by what we and the Syrian military leadership are preparing for the coming days,” the general said, IRNA reported on Monday.

“Around 7,000 Iranian and Iraqi fighters have arrived in Syria over the past few weeks and their first priority is the defense of the capital. The larger contingent is Iraqi,” the Syrian security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP news agency.

“The goal is to reach 10,000 men to support the Syrian army and pro-government militias, firstly in Damascus, and then to retake Jisr al-Shughur because it is key to the Mediterranean coast and the Hama region,” the source added.

Throughout the battle for Tikrit, the Iranian general was regularly pictured with fighters on the frontlines around the edge of the city, in photos shared widely on social media. There are also rumors that Soleimani has been spotted in Anbar province in Iraq as Baghdad seeks to recapture the city of Ramadi, which fell to ISIL last month, the Newsweek reported.

MD/P