amman top adviser iran supreme leader say expect syrian army soon recapture rebel-held idlib province well eastern syria area u.s.-backed militias hold swathe territory iran close ally syrian president bashar al-assad iranian official ali akbar velayati speak aleppo syrian army drive rebel siege last year help tehran military alliance back assad also include russia shi ite muslim militias year focus war central eastern syria islamic state militants damascus set sight territory hold kurdish-led force back u.s.-led coalition also fight sunni muslim northern eastern syria soon see eastern syria clear idlib area west say velayati top aide iranian supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei comment report mehr news agency also hail success iranian ally across region include lebanon hezbollah remark likely infuriate tehran main regional foe saudi arabia laud resistance line tehran beirut assad force also make advance rebel-held areas northwest syria adjacent idlib region represent insurgents big remain stronghold visit aleppo velayati quote military news outlet run hezbollah say tehran involvement syrian civil war avert wide violence resistance line start tehran pass baghdad damascus beirut reach palestine quote tell group shi ite militia volunteer military news outlet run hezbollah iran role first provide military advisers train arm shi ite militia support assad help shape syrian conflict strengthen tehran hand across region first time iran revolutionary theocracy exert decisive authority arc influence sunni arab power particularly saudi arabia warn years hezbollah news outlet say fighters velayati address come defend sayeda zeinab shrine damascus magnet thousands iraqi afghan shi ite militia recruit go assign front line fight sunni rebel group oppose assad almost every shi ite militiaman bear insignia combat fatigue word sake sayeda zeinab velayati visit second senior iranian official war-torn country nearly two weeks show tehran openly raise support syrian government iran military chief staff pay rare visit syria last month warn israel breach syrian air space territory day visit frontline position near aleppo saudi arabia arab ally regional powerhouse israel accuse iran seek expand influence arab world goal carve land route iraq syria mediterranean syrian opposition also say shi ite iran military presence syria stoke sectarian conflict blame militias demographic change uproot sunnis iran 's velayati say east syria idlib clear 'soon