IRAN IN SYRIA – AT 10:38 A.M. ET:  I guess this is the thanks we get for approving the Iran nuclear pact.  From Fox: 

More Iranian troops have arrived in Syria for an upcoming ground operation to accompany Russian airstrikes, defense officials confirm to Fox News.

“It has always been understood in this building that the Russians would provide the air force, and the Iranians would provide the ground force in Syria,” one official said.

Another official tells Fox News, “The Iranians have always been on the ground [in Syria].” The officials could not disclose the size of this new Iranian force due to the sensitivity of the information.

These Iranian forces are under the command of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the Quds Force commander in charge of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s international operations, which runs a network of proxy forces throughout the Middle East, including Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon.

Fox News first reported a secret meeting between Soleimani and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place in late July. Part of the discussions between Soleimani and Putin was the future Russian build up in Syria, coordinated closely with Iran.

In addition, sources tell Reuters that Lebanese Hezbollah forces will soon arrive to aid in the ground operation. Hezbollah, a Russian and Iranian ally, has fought alongside President Bashar al-Assad's forces since early in the Syrian civil war.

COMMENT:  Not only are we being overwhelmed by Putin's superior strategy and Iran's demonic gutsiness, but there's a huge possibility here of an accident – an unintended clash that could spark a huge regional war. 

Also, Israel is not going to sit by and watch all this happen.  I would not be shocked if Bibi is ready to call up reserves and strongly imply, while not saying it, that Israel's nuclear forces are on alert.

October 1, 2015