“Now that the Fatemiyoun and Zeinabiyoun have helped Iran attain ‘victory’ against ISIL, the question is what Iran will do with these tens of thousands of battle-hardened fighters. Will it deploy them elsewhere in the Middle East? Initial indications are that Iran is actually downsizing the contingent of Afghan fighters, sending them back to Iran where their families — mostly refugees or undocumented immigrants — have been promised permanent residency. This gives the fighters’ families a secure future, but it also gives the leadership in Tehran the security of knowing that it can, if needed, draw again on these veteran fighters who are now indebted to the government.”
Source: Mission Accomplished? What’s Next for Iran’s Afghan Fighters in Syria – War on the Rocks
