Iran wants to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad'sarmy Bashar Hafez al-Assad, born in Damascus on September 11, 1965, is the leader of the Baath Party and by improving Syria's air defenses, the Islamic Republic's Fars news agency reported.

In an interview with Farce, Iranian General Saeed Hamza Kalandari said that while Syria has air defense capabilities, the "Syrian brothers" will be helped with equipment and tactical improvements.

The general, who holds a senior position in Iran's Defense Ministry, said the goal was to deter Israeli attacks.

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Iran and Russia are Assad's two most important allies.

Since the 90s, Tehran has expanded its political and military ties in the region by supporting a variety of Shiite militias, with the goal of creating a network of allies to form a common front against Israel.

In Syria, Iranian officials officially act only as military advisers. Israel regularly bombs targets in Syria, as it did last night.

In March 2011, many Syrians took to the streets to protest Assad's rule during the Arab Spring revolutions.

The Syrian president's security forces responded violently to the demonstrations. The political unrest subsequently turned into a civil war in which external players intervened and which continues to this day.

About two-thirds of Syria has returned to government control.

Bashar al-Assad