Mustafa Jawad Ghafari, “the butcher of Aleppo”: newsru.
Iranian General Javad Ghafari, nicknamed the “Butcher of Aleppo” for his participation in the bloody battles in this Syrian city, returned to Syria to coordinate actions against armed groups in the suburbs of Hama. The move comes amid intensified fighting between Bashar al-Assad’s government forces and rebels from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and their allies. This was reported by the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing Israelinfo.
The political context and the role of Ghafari
It is noteworthy that only a month ago, Brigadier General Ghafari was expelled from Syria on the orders of Bashar al-Assad. The official reason for his removal was his involvement in fuel smuggling. At the time, Assad stressed that Ghafari’s mission in Syria was complete and he was returning to Iran.
However, in the light of the current escalation of the conflict, Tehran decided to return the general to a key position as a military adviser. His main task is to strengthen the counterattack of government forces in the Hama region, where the situation is becoming critical due to the offensive of armed groups.
“The ‘Butcher of Aleppo’ and war crimes charges
Ghafari gained notoriety during the siege of Aleppo, which lasted four years. His troops were repeatedly accused of numerous war crimes, including attacks on civilians. Human rights activists and international organisations have called for him to be held accountable for these actions.
The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) considers Ghafari to be one of Iran’s leading experts on the Syrian conflict. He is called a key figure who played an important role in the “liberation” of Aleppo in 2016.
The consequences of Ghafari’s return
On social media, Iranian supporters have dubbed Ghafari “Qassem Soleimani II”, hinting at his strategic thinking and close ties to Qassem Soleimani, the Quds Force commander who was killed in 2020. General Ghafari was Suleimani’s constant companion, and now, according to his supporters, he is the one who can stop the rebel offensive on Damascus.
General Ghafari’s return indicates Iran’s increased military involvement in the Syrian conflict. It also underscores the growing challenges faced by the Assad regime in its struggle to control the country’s territories.
The development of the situation in Hama will be an indicator of whether Ghafari will be able to justify Tehran’s trust and change the course of the war.
