HELPING HAND

Iran Training Syrian Militia

To help Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Iran is planning to lend assistance to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, according to U.S. intelligence. The country is reportedly training a militia made up of Syrian Shia Muslim fighters to help overtaxed troops fight rebel forces, Gen. Martin Dempsey, the U.S.’s top military officer, said Tuesday. “We do not think that Iran ought to be playing that role at this moment in time,” he said. “It is adding to the killing that’s going on in Syria, and it tries to bolster a regime that we think ultimately is going to come down.” There is, of course, allegiance on the other side. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a summit of Islamic countries, is expected to suspend Syria’s membership Wednesday, despite the objections of Iran.