Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei made new appointments in the country’s top military brass, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.

Ayatollah Khamenei, also Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Armed Forces, appointed Brigadier General Mohammad Hossein Dadras as new Deputy Chief Commander of the Army.

Dadras replaced Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan on the recommendation of Army Chief Commander Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi. Brigadier General Dadras was formerly the Army’s Deputy Chief Commander for Coordination.

The Supreme Leader also appointed Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi (photo) as new Commander of Iran’s Navy.

Rear Admiral Khanzadi succeeded former Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. Rear Admiral Sayyari was also appointed by Ayatollah Khamenei as the Army’s Deputy Chief Commander for Coordination.

In another development, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami and his Syrian counterpart General Fahad Jassim al-Freij in a phone conversation on Sunday underlined continued cooperation and increased efforts to fight against the ISIL.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to remain beside its Syrian brothers in the post-war era as it has supported them so far,” General Hatami said during the phone talks.

Al-Freij, for his part, said: “The unique coordination between Iran and Syria guarantees peace, stability and security in both countries and the region.”

He also invited General Hatami to pay a visit to Syria.

The Syrian military sources confirmed on Friday that Deir Ezzur city, the biggest in the country’s East and the last stronghold of ISIL, came fully under government control.