Iran's Revolutionary Guards in Syria as violence continues in several Syrian cities

Activists in Syria posted fresh videos of fierce fighting in the country's restive areas on Saturday, as the new international envoy tasked with ending Syria's civil war claimed the conflict now poses a threat to regional and world peace.    

Internet videos showed what was claimed to be heavy gunfire in the area of Hama overnight as well as what appeared to be shelling on Saturday in the areas of Damascus, Homs and the eastern city of Deir el-Zour.       

Activists said regime forces also shelled Aleppo and clashed with rebels outside Damascus.      

The videos emerged as new envoy Lakhdar Brahimi admitted he still had no clear idea on how to proceed in his efforts to bring peace to the country.       

Brahimi's bleak comments followed his first meeting with President Bashar Assad since taking up the job he himself has called "nearly impossible."          

Meanwhile, members of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps are in Syria providing non-military assistance and Iran may get involved militarily if Syria comes under attack, its commander said on Sunday.             

The statement is the first official acknowledgement from a senior military commander that Iran has a military presence on the ground in Syria where an uprising has left tens of thousands dead since it began 18 months ago.    

Western countries and Syrian opposition groups have accused Iran of providing weapons and expertise to Syrian armed forces and have suspected an Iranian military presence inside the country. Iran has denied this.        

On the other hand, already host to 80,000 Syrians in refugee camps, Turkey is now seeking to relocate some of the tens of thousands of others living outside the shelters to relieve pressure on local communities and better handle security in its tense border area.       

Many Syrians who have fled violence in their country are living near the border but outside the dozen camps, either staying with relatives or renting apartments, a large number of them in Antakya, the largest city in Turkey's southeast Hatay province.

AP/REUTERS