You might have heard that a bunch of Iranian "pilgrims" (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) were recently abducted by rebel insurgents in Syria, and that some were killed. PressTV is reporting that Iran is now blaming Turkey, Qatar and the U.S. for supporting and arming the 'insurgents', and are therefore being held accountable for the lives of those who were kidnapped.
“We hold the Turkish government responsible for giving shelter to these armed groups and also if a criminal act is carried out by these groups, such as kidnapping Iranian citizens,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Monday.
“We also hold the Qatari government accountable. It is worth mentioning that the US is openly supporting the armed groups with ammunition,” he added.
“Today we sent a formal memoir to the interest section of the US government in the Swiss embassy, saying we hold Washington responsible for securing the lives of our nationals in Syria,” Abdullahian stated.
Responsible? Responsible for 48 alleged "pilgrims" too stupid to realize that you don't wander into the middle of a WAR ZONE? Those 'pilgrims' also happen to be all male and of fighting age. First of all, if you are fool enough to take a jaunt into a country that is in the midst of a civil war, pilgrimage or not, then you deserve what you get. And if they were indeed Revolutionary Guard on their way to help Assad's forces- as the Free Syria Army (FSA) claims - then they too should suffer the consequences.
According to PressTV, the Syrian rebels have said that the three Iranians were killed by Assad's forces, but that they will retaliate by killing the others if the government doesn't stop attacking them. Supposedly, the 48 Iranians were on a bus on their way from Damascus International Airport to Hazrat Zainab's shrine when they were kidnapped on August 4.
However, anything PressTV reports is suspect. Others have said that all the Iranians are alive and well and in Turkey.
Who knows wherein lies the truth, but the bottom line: you don't travel into a war zone unless you are there to fight, report on the fighting, or help minister to those suffering and wounded.
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