Iran Building Military Base Near Damascus?
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Washington has illegal military bases in northern and southern Syria, built for pursuit of regime change, wanting pro-Western puppet leadership replacing Assad.
No evidence suggests Iran has military bases in Syria, or an intention to build one near Damascus or anywhere else in the country.
It has military advisors alone in Syria, operating from its bases.
Last week at the Valdai Discussion Club conference in Moscow, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed his country has no military bases in Syria, nor a military presence other than advisors.
No credible evidence refutes him. A Fox News disinformation report claimed otherwise, saying:
“Iran has built another permanent military base outside Syria’s capital city complete with hangers used to store missiles capable of hitting all of Israel, according to Western intelligence sources.”
Fact: “Western intelligence sources” long ago lost credibility. They continue lying about Russian meddling in America’s electoral process that hasn’t occurred, not does any evidence suggests it’s planned anywhere worldwide - a US specialty, not Moscow’s.
Fox News claimed ImageSat International images it obtained “show what is believed to be the new Iranian base, eight miles northwest of Damascus, operated by the Quds Force…”
They show nothing related to Iran in Syria. Claims otherwise are Big Lies.
In Tuesday testimony before House Armed Services Committee members, CENTCOM head General Joseph Votel claimed a nonexistent Iranian Middle East threat - failing to explain the country hasn’t attacked another one in centuries.
It threatens none now - not Israel or any others. Votel lied claiming an Iranian imperialism threat. He lied saying its military sent missiles and fighters to Syria and Yemen.
He lied claiming Washington’s mission in Syria is eliminating ISIS, and preventing its resurgence - the scourge it created and supports, along with al-Qaeda, al-Nusra and other terrorist groups.
He lied claiming Iran created a proxy military network in Yemen. He lied saying Tehran created Hezbollah in Lebanon. It was founded as a national liberation movement after Israel invaded the country in 1982.
He lied claiming an Iranian base built south of Damascus was destroyed in December by Israeli missiles. Israel repeatedly strikes Syrian targets. No evidence suggests Iranian military facilities in the country.
Votel lied accusing Russia of preventing conflict resolution in Syria, saying:
“Moscow is playing the role of arsonist and firefighter - fueling the conflict in Syria between (Syria), the YPG, and Turkey, then claiming to serve as an arbiter to resolve the dispute.”
Russia is a peacemaker, going all-out for diplomatic conflict resolution, its good faith efforts undermined by US rage for war and regime change.
America is a ruthless global aggressor, wanting all sovereign independent countries replaced by subservient vassal states.
Washington, NATO, Israel and their rogue allies represent the only ominous threat to regional peace and stability - not Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas or Russia.
Votel’s testimony to congressional members was a recitation of disinformation and Big Lies - truth-telling abandoned entirely.
A Final Comment
Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman disputed the Fox News report, saying “(d)on’t take every report in the media, even from a respected outlet (sic) like Fox, as an absolute thing,” adding:
“We have the full picture of what’s going on” - with no further elaboration.
An earlier fake news report claimed Iran has 10 military bases in Syria, including two near Golan, saying it’s training Shia fighters for possible war on Israel. It was willful disinformation, similar to what’s discussed above.
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