Political Quotes

“Our amendment would require the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Secretaries of State and Defense, to prepare a report for Congress on efforts by Iran to establish long-term influence in Syria using both hard and soft power and the threat that this proposes to U.S. interests and allies, including Israel. Syria's civil war, which began in 2011, has brought an influx of Iranian-backed forces into Syria. Iran and Syria are both designated by the United States as state sponsors of terrorism. Their military partnership dates back decades, and Iran regards Syria as one of its most important allies. Iran and Iranian-backed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah, have provided manpower, training, weapons, and funding to the Syrian Government, led by President Bashar al-Assad. This assistance, coupled with support from Russia, has enabled the Assad government to retain or regain territory in Syria, and the Assad government currently maintains control over roughly two-thirds of the country. Iran's goals in Syria include protecting the Assad government, increasing Iran's regional influence, threatening Israel from a closer location, building weapon production facilities and other military infrastructure, and securing a land bridge that would connect Iran to Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Lebanon via Iraq and Syria.…”