One of the most senior commanders in Iran's Revolutionary Guard has been killed in Syria while serving as a military adviser, the country's military said Friday.
The cause of death of Gen. Hossein Hamedani was not provided in the announcement, on the Guard's website.
It comes as Russian cruise missiles are targeting Syria's anti-government militants. The missiles were launched Wednesday at the area of Aleppo in northern Syria.
Hamedani, who played a role in Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s, was killed in the suburbs of Aleppo, according to Iranian state television.
He was reportedly in Syria to help President Bashar Assad's forces. Iran, an ally of both Assad and the current Shiite-led government in Iraq, has repeatedly said it has advisers in Syria, but not ground fighters.
Assad remains under siege from rebel forces, some of whom are backed by the United States, as well as ISIS militants, who have carved out a territory in Syria and Iraq.
