Following the defeat and withdrawal of Islamic State (IS) militants from the town of Jurf al-Sakher in Iraq last week, independent Iraqi websites have shown pictures of Brigadier General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force, in the front line. According to the Associated Press quoting Iraqi sources on Wednesday, dozens of advisors from the IRGC and the Lebanese Hezbollah were on the front lines in Jurf al-Sakher, providing weapons training to some 7,000 troops and militia fighters, and coordinating with military commanders ahead of the operation.
Iraqi military officials had previously pointed to the key role Soleimani played in breaking the siege of Amerli by IS in August.
