[kcdusk]

Foreign fighters fighting on behalf of a different country. Are they being paid? If so, I'd say yes to mercenaries.

If the soldiers are there representing Iran, still being paid, then i'd say not mercenary.

Different argument now. I always thought of mercenaries as individuals being paid to fight. Not really in large groups, or sent by a country. Being sent by a country makes them "legit" fighters in my view rather than mercenary.