Iranian media outlets, both official and unofficial, have been reporting on a growing number of soldiers and militiamen returning home from the conflict in Syria in body bags, fueling a growing debate within the Islamic Republic over its role in Syria. Although some officials quietly balk at the number of Iranians killed, the narrative being projected by the regime or “martyrs” dying in a heroic battle against the existential threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) terror militia also seems to be gaining a following. “The Iranian regime is showing its importance in Syria, using all its propaganda machinery to publicize the names and information of individuals who were martyred,” said Phillip Smyth, a researcher at the University of Maryland. A count of the reports indicates that at least 67 Iranians have been killed in Syria since the beginning of October, with many more wounded. Read More