It was a memorial for the “martyrs” killed when the U.S. struck military bases in Syria, according to Iranian state television.
A small crowd sat in rows of folding chairs, men in the front and women in the back, at the main cemetery in Tehran, the Iranian capital, earlier this month.
Children milled around and a young man passed a box of sweets.
To help President Bashar al-Assad of Syria beat back rebel forces and Islamic State terrorists, Iran at the time began recruiting thousands of Afghan refugees to fight, offering $500 a month, schooling for their children, and Iranian residency.
The brigade is still believed to be about 20,000 strong, drawn from Afghan refugees living mostly in Iran, and it serves under the command of the Quds Force, the overseas arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Persons:
”, Bashar al, Assad
Organizations:
Iranians, Fatemiyoun Brigade, Islamic State, Quds Force, Guards
Locations:
U.S, Syria, Tehran, Iran