The US envoy for Iran said Thursday that Tehran has funded militia groups in Syria and Iraq to the tune of $16 billion.
US State Department Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, who made the comments in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, did not specify over what time period the money was sent.
Iran has longstanding ties to a number of armed Shiite groups in Iraq and was a key backer of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a paramilitary group that fought against the Islamic State jihadist organization.
In Syria, Iran supports militias fighting on behalf of its ally Syrian President Bashar Assad in that country’s civil war.
Tehran also backs other armed factions such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group and the Houthis in Yemen. READ MORE
