BICOM

Allegations have resurfaced regarding the possible role of Iran in helping Syria’s brutal campaign of repression against internal protests. Syrian oppositionists have made claims of this kind since the beginning of the protest. However, hard evidence has been slow to emerge, though there is logic to the claims. Syrian-Iranian military cooperation is formalised (a cooperation treaty was signed in 1998) and is intensive. Syria gives Iran a presence on the Mediterranean, and is the key arms conduit between Tehran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. As such, Teheran has a clear and major interest in preventing the fall of the Syrian regime. Recently, senior western diplomats quoted in the UK media have also asserted an Iranian role in the suppression of the protests. An unnamed western official quoted in the Guardian today noted a significant increase in the presence of Iranian personnel in Syria since the protests began. The diplomat said that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was providing both ‘technical and personnel’ support to the Syrian regime.  Last month, the White House made similar claims, pointing to an Iranian role in Syrian efforts to monitor and block Internet and social media communications between opposition activists.

Over the weekend, the death toll in Syria was heavy as protests continued. Fifty people were killed in the course of demonstrations on Friday. The Syrian military swept into the towns of Banias and Homs on Sunday and more than 8,000 people are now thought to have been detained since the protests began.