Iran has reportedly sent members of its Quds Force, a military unit known for its paramilitary operations in the Middle East, to support Maduro’s effort to stay in power, Admiral Craig Faller from U.S. Southern Command told the Journal in a call with reporters.

Faller said the military is also tracking an “uptick” in arms shipments from Iran to Venezuela, though he didn’t specify the types of weapons supplied.

Faller previously mentioned an “Iranian presence in Venezuela” in March.

Russia has offered Venezuela’s military more assistance this year, Faller said Wednesday, and Cuba supports Maduro’s intelligence service.

“We’re real concerned about what Iran is up to, not just globally, but here in this hemisphere,” Faller told the Journal on Wednesday.

Source » forbes