Syria: Assad denies presence of Iranian troops 'Only officials helping us, Israel lies'

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, MAY 31- Syrian President Bashar al Assad denied the presence of Iranian troops in Syria in an interview with Russian television Russia Today quoted by Syria's government agency Sana. Assad said: ''We don't have Iranian troops. We have never had them and we can't hide them. We would have no problem admitting their presence''.



Repeated reports over the past five years, which have also been confirmed by Iranian media, claimed Iranian officers, including high-ranking officials, have been killed on various fronts of the Syrian war.



Assad admitted that there are Iranian officials ''working with the Syrian army and offering help''.



Talking about recent air raids attributed to Israel against alleged Iranian bases in Syria, the president said ''it is an Israeli lie. Also in the recent attack, a few weeks ago, they said they attacked Iranian bases and camps there were dozens of Syrian martyrs and wounded soldiers but no Iranian'', the president added.



