By bne Gulf bureau Hundreds of Iran-backed Iraqi fighters have crossed into Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad's forces following recent rebel advances, according to multiple security sources in Baghdad,

Assad, as China also gave its backing to the regime. At least 300 fighters crossed from Iraq as Tehran said it would provide full support to the beleaguered dictator after rebel groups seized the city of Aleppo and charged south toward Hama and Damascus.