"We are seeing a growing presence by Iran and that is of deep concern to us. We do not think that Iran ought to play that role at this moment in time, that's dangerous... It's adding to the killing that's going on in Syria," Mr. Panetta said at a joint briefing with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey.

Gen. Dempsey said the newly-formed combat forces were referred to as "jaish ashaabi," or "army of the people," and were made up of “Syrians, generally Shia and some Alawite." He said the training was carried out in particular by the Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Leon Panetta urged Iran to stay out of the Syrian crisis and pledged that Washington would continue shipping “non-lethal” supplies to the rebels.

BBC, AFP, CNN

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