ahmadinejad. with its top ranks decimated, the revolutionary guard may have to take more steps to protect its most valuable general, qassam seoul mannie, the shadowy, ruthless commander of the elite quds force, considered the architect of the campaign against isis. seo he is now spotted on key battlegrounds in syria. this photo showing him seemingly posing with troops there. analysts say with his right-hand commanders falling, there's now enormous pressure on sulimani. >> i think he knowls he has to win the fight. you'll see more of him. but he also has to deal with iraq, which is in a stalemate, and he should be worried that the islamic state will take this time to make another push in iraq. >> experts say expect iran to sustain more casualties in syria. they say the iranians believe they cannot back down now, they have to prop up the assad regime. it's the only way they can maintain their pipeline of weapons and aid to the terror group hezbollah and counter the