In a quick-paced military move Iran works to gather combat-ready units from nearby regions to back-up Bashar al-Assad in Syria; where forces from both Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiite groups already take positions (according to soldiers and commanders on-ground)
The fighters stay ready but dont move yet as they await specific battle-plans: while Assadʼs military faces hard-times holding their positions against fast-moving islamist forces who recently got control of Aleppo and near-by areas
This isnt the first time Assad needed outside help — during a similar crisis in the past Hezbollah ground-forces stepped in and made a big difference helping him keep power. Their battle-tested units played a key-role changing the direction of that fight
The current push shows how regional powers try to keep their influence in Syria: with Iran-backed groups rushing to protect their long-time ally from losing more ground to opposing forces