Ali Reza Tavassoli (Persian: علیرضا توسلی; 1962 – 28 February 2015) was an Afghan commander and ethnic Hazara leader of the Fatemiyoun Brigade until he was killed in action fighting Jabhat al-Nusra in Daraa, Syria.[1][2]
Biography
Ali Reza Tavassoli was born in 1962 in Afghanistan.[3] Tavassoli lived in Mashhad and studied in Qom, Iran. He graduated from Al-Mustafa International University.[4] He was an Afghan volunteer in the Iran–Iraq War.[5]
In Syria
He was appointed by Qasem Soleimani, Iranian commander of the Quds Force, as commander of Shia volunteers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. On 2014, he organized Afghan Shia volunteers and formed the Fatemiyoun Brigade to protect holy Shia shrines in Syria. In Syria, Tavassoli is known as Abu Hamed.[2][4]
Death
On 28 February 2015, Ali Reza Tavassoli was killed in Southern Syria offensive[1] while fighting Jabhat al-Nusra in Daraa, south of Damascus.[1][2] He was buried in Mashhad.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 "Iran mourns 7 Afghans killed fighting for Damascus ally". The Daily Star. Agence France Presse. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- 1 2 3 Neriah, Jacques (4 March 2015). "Iran Deploys Afghan Shiite Brigade to Spread Its Control in Southern Syria". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ Zohuri, Vahid (15 March 2015). "Ali Reza Tavassoli, Afghan commander of Fatemiyoun Brigade". Kayhan. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- 1 2 3 Esfandiari, Golnaz (25 April 2015). "Increasing Number Of Afghans, Pakistanis Killed In Syria Buried In Iran". Persian Letters. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ Alfoneh, Ali (3 August 2015). "Shiite Combat Casualties Show the Depth of Iran's Involvement in Syria". Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 3 April 2016.