2,100 Iranian fighters killed in Iraq, Syria: Iranian official

E-Paper | April 28, 2026

More than 2,000 fighters sent from Iran have been killed in Iraq and Syria, the head of Iran's veterans' affairs office said Tuesday.

“Some 2,100 martyrs have been martyred so far in Iraq or other places defending the holy mausoleums,” Mohammad Ali Shahidi told the state-run IRNA news agency.

Shahidi, who is head of Iran's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, was speaking at a conference on martyrdom culture in Tehran.

The figure was more than double the number he gave in November, which referred only to Syria.

Iran is, with Russia, the main military backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and also organises militias fighting the militant Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq.

Shahidi did not provide details on the nationalities of those killed.

Iran oversees “volunteer” fighters recruited from among its own nationals as well as communities in neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The families of those killed in battle are given Iranian citizenship under a law passed last May.

Tehran refers to the fighters as “defenders of the shrines” — a reference to holy sites in Iraq and Syria that have been targeted by the militants.

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FRANKENSTEIN

Mar 07, 2017 06:45pm

People often criticize us for Afghan War look whats Iran and other states are doing. The fact of the matter is every one does so. In 1979 we have a country on our Western Frontier the same mighty USSR which has "militarily" bisected us just eight years ago. So what option do we have? Its often said that we jumped into the USA's war but the truth is we invited USA to intervene because we felt a threat on our western Border which stretches to 2200 Km. And mind you we cant have a nuclear program if USA was not too busy in Agfhanistan. In 1983 they already knew every thing but it was Afghan war that compel them to not take any action. What we did wrong was that after 1988 we just let these militias go on their own. We should have control them but we did not. I think that use of militias has always been practiced but may be they are just on our borders and that may have damaged us.

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Ths

Mar 07, 2017 06:49pm

Iran only country to stand in face of Israel and US.

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SadFaces

Mar 07, 2017 06:49pm

Iran is sheltering refugee families, and forcefully take their men and boys for their proxy war in Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria. Afghans please see this as the core difference between Iran and Pakistan and how we treat refugees.

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Ths

Mar 07, 2017 06:49pm

Russian airstrkes and Iranian ground forces stopped ISIS .

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Ths

Mar 07, 2017 06:50pm

Russia and Iran are working in interest of region and will eventually force US out of region.

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charles

Mar 07, 2017 06:52pm

Brave soldiers defeating Saudi backed terrorists Respect to Iran

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Ths

Mar 07, 2017 06:52pm

Iran is a major player in region .

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Kamal Khan

Mar 07, 2017 06:52pm

@Ths nonsense. Russian and I ran attack areas where FSA is and not Is.

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Amin

Mar 07, 2017 06:58pm

So much for the nonintervention in other states. A dictator like Asad has able to subjugate its people with the help of Iran.

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Peace

Mar 07, 2017 06:59pm

Ok so when saudis do it its terrorism but since its iran no one calling them terrorists. Dual standards

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asif

Mar 07, 2017 06:59pm

Killing innocent in Syria and other parts is not holy at all.

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Sahmad

Mar 07, 2017 07:12pm

As it is a public information now that Pakistanis were recruited by Iran... can we ask iran officially if they are still recruiting Pakistanis for the same purpose and to stop this activity. Sorry who will ask this question, we don't have a foreign minister.

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Taimoor khan

Mar 07, 2017 07:15pm

While it is kosher for Iran to do whatever it likes in distant lands , if Pakistan does the same in its neighbor to protect its security and national interests, the so called intellectuals in media go on frenzy.

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Right

Mar 07, 2017 07:16pm

Iran goes, intervene where ever it wants, does it ever think what sunni majority Pakistan will think! And here we are, our every decision is based on "What will Iran think if we do this".

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Kabeer

Mar 07, 2017 07:21pm

@Kamal Khan "Russian and I ran attack areas where FSA is and not Is" totally ignorant comments Iran's attack area was totally of ISIS controlled area that's why ISIS is against the Iran whereas Russian and Syrian army attacked both so-called FSA and ISIS please correct your information

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Muhammad

Mar 07, 2017 07:33pm

@FRANKENSTEIN "In 1979 we have a country on our Western Frontier the same mighty USSR which has "militarily" bisected us just eight years ago. So what option do we have? Its often said that we jumped into the USA's war but the truth is we invited USA to intervene" Totally wrong USSR never entered into Pakistan let alone bisecting us secondly Gen Zia and USA used jihadists from all over the world to frustrate USSR who came to rescue the than legal Government of Afghanistan on their request

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Azam

Mar 07, 2017 07:34pm

If Iran tries to push own agenda it is ok ? But if Saudi or Pakistan do it then it is terrorism ?!?!

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zzz

Mar 07, 2017 07:43pm

I hope there are people waiting back in Pakistan for these Iran back fighters on their return. wipe out all these terrorists from Iran. Gov do it or vigilante. Will applaud surely.

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Mohammed

Mar 07, 2017 08:00pm

why should Iran enter fare in in Iraq and Syria and get 2000 Iranian killed.

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Muhammad

Mar 07, 2017 08:07pm

@zzz "I hope there are people waiting back in Pakistan for these Iran back fighters on their return. wipe out all these terrorists from Iran" very biased and ignorant comments kindly quote a single event where Iranian backed people committed any terrorists act anywhere in Pakistan ?

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bdrhmnhrk

Mar 07, 2017 08:12pm

A lot of People in this comment section are not well informed, to say the least. How about you start to realise Iran isn't invading any country but helping out Iraq and Syria LEGALLY?

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BNJ

Mar 07, 2017 08:13pm

No Islamic country is as courageous as Iran. They are so proud of their culture and civilization.

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Right

Mar 07, 2017 08:29pm

@bdrhmnhrk Russians and a countless others made the same argument.

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Right

Mar 07, 2017 08:30pm

@BNJ So proud that they are forcing it down the throats of others.

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Kabir

Mar 07, 2017 08:29pm

@Taimoor khan "While it is kosher for Iran to do whatever it likes in distant lands , if Pakistan does the same in its neighbor to protect its security and national interests, the so called intellectuals in media go on frenzy" Because Iran extend its support on the request of legal government and their people whereas Pakistan always went into the other countries against the will of their people and legal governments

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ayAn

Mar 07, 2017 08:33pm

@SADFACES well you don't know that they are forces to go and fight or not and secondly Afghan refugees have better conditons in Iran has in Iran they are given free education for kids and Local jobs to Elders .

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Kabir

Mar 07, 2017 08:37pm

@SadFaces "Iran is sheltering refugee families, and forcefully take their men and boys for their proxy war in Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria" who gave you this report Daesh ISIS or Al Qaeda what an absurd comments wake up Sadfaces you are living in the age of information not in the stone age where you can spread such a biased concocted misinformation

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Right

Mar 07, 2017 08:45pm

@Kabir "Because Iran extend its support on the request of legal government" So you think the Russian invasion of Afghanistan was justified since they came in to help the 'local government'.

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Sara

Mar 07, 2017 10:25pm

@ayAn what are you waiting for please go to iran and take free education medical etc. You will do better in Iran

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Jehanzeb Idrees

Mar 07, 2017 11:15pm

@Muhammad: Oh my! Then you have no idea my friend .. :)

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usman

Mar 07, 2017 11:25pm

@Taimoor khan We did not do it well .

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bdrhmnhrk

Mar 08, 2017 02:46am

@RIGHT "Russian Invasion of Aghanistan"?! Who gave you Internet access?!

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Abid

Mar 08, 2017 09:09am

Good on Iran for fighting evil face to face!

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Concern

Mar 08, 2017 09:50am

These fighters were used as gun fodders to further their vicious agenda.

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Ahmed Hanif

Mar 08, 2017 04:30pm

Syria is being punished due to its support to Hizbullah during 2006 Israel - Hizbullah war. Israel happy to use proxies to damage each and every home of Syria. Iraq was punished in forcing US forces to get out of Iraq 2011.

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Ahmed Hanif

Mar 08, 2017 04:28pm

@Peace... Iran has been fighting with US, Israel and Saudi supported terrorists. Crystal Clear.

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