The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

In the frame of the continuous tension between both parties east of Deir Ezzor…the regime’s military security intelligence arrests a person close to the Iranian militias in Baqrus village

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the regime’s military security intelligence arrested a person in Baqrus village in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, and he is one of the brokers of those who work for the “Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps” in the field of buying real estates and he reaches a high level of cooperation and coordination with a commander in the Iranian Liwa al-Quds, and the SOHR published on the 22nd of August 2019, that the Iranian militias which are in control of Al-Mayadin city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, have arrested members of the National Defense Militiamen in the city, after secret cameras have been detected fixed on motorcycles which members of the ND were riding in order to take pictures of headquarters affiliated to the Iranian, which this action comes in the frame of the mounting tension between the both parties in the area and the Iranian campaign to limit the National Defense Militiamen’s influence in Al-Mayadin, and the SOHR published on the 15th of August 2019, that tension increases in al-Mayadin city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, between militias of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard against the NDF members and regime’s Military Security, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned from several reliable sources that militias of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard set on Thursday afternoon several military checkpoints; on the road of Boqruss – al-Mayadin, and these checkpoints prevented the passage of Military Security vehicles and Military vehicles carrying the flag of the regime and prevented them from entering al-Mayadin city, also the militias set checkpoints inside al-Mayadin city which check and request mission papers from NDF militia and vehicles of the Military Security, while the Syrian Observatory published on the 27th of July 2019 that the Iranian forces and militiamen loyal to them are continuing to entrench and cement their presence within the area of west Euphrates in the countryside of Deir Ezzor province, through attracting more fighters and recruiting them within their ranks in addition to removing every obstacles that may disturb their full control over the area specially with the presence of the Russian-backed militiamen of the National Defense, where the Iranian militiamen are trying to curb the National Defense through confining their influence in the area, an the latest incident may be the best proof of that, and the SOHR published on the 24th of July 2019, that a military force of the Iranian militia surrounded a checkpoint of the NDF militia in al-Kornish Street in al-Mayadin city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, and this checkpoint is used by the NDF militia in smuggling operations between the Syria Democratic Forces’ controlled areas and regime forces’-controlled areas; through boats, the sources added to the Syrian Observatory that the Iranians demanded NDF  to withdraw from the checkpoint immediately and they withdrew without any resistance, followed by the spread of Iranian members on the checkpoint and raising the Iranian flag.

and the SOHR published on the 20th of July 2019, that the recruitment by the Iranian Forces and their loyal militias continues in the Syrian south and the western banks of Euphrates River, through the continuous operations in secret and public by the godfathers of the area to recruit men and young men in Daraa province and Deir Ezzor countryside at the west bank of Euphrates River, where the Syrian Observatory monitored the increase of number of volunteers in the Syrian south to more than 3225 volunteers, also it rose to about 1950, the number of young Syrians and men of different ages who were recruited into the ranks of the Iranian forces and their militias recently; after the “Shiism” operations within the west Euphrates area in Deir Ezzor countryside, where the Iranian militias are intensifying these recruitment operations in full exploitation of the Russians’ preoccupation with military operations in the Syrian north and their successive defeats there.

The Syrian Observatory published on the 15th of July 2019 that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was informed by reliable sources that tens of NDF militias in al-Mayadin city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor have joined the Iranian forces there, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory: about 50 members defected from the NDF without informing leadership of the militia and joined the ranks of the Iranian Forces in al-Mayadin city, where the members justified their action by saying that they had not received their monthly dues for 5 months, while Iranian forces five their fighters monthly salaries of $150 in addition to food basket and medical services, the sources added to the Syrian Observatory that the NDF command has officially requested the Iranian forces to return the 50 members, which was rejected by the Iranian militias and considered the members as a part of their arsenal in Deir Ezzor.

The Syrian Observatory published on the 24th of June 2019 that it seems that the Russians have not only failed to manage military operations within the Syrian north, as Iran is still outweighing Russia in the cold war between them, where Russia has not yet been able to stop in the Iranians in the Syrian south and the eastern part of the country, where the Iranian role on the Syrian ground has not diminished yet, on the contrary, Iran continues to consolidate its presence in Syria through continuous and systematic Shiism operations and recruiting more youths and men south and east of the country, while all the Russian attempts until now to stand up against the Iranians have increased the failure of the Russian policy in Syria, especially in the light of the continued failure of the Syrian regime to reopen the road of al-Suqaylabiyah – Muhradah and expel the factions and the Jihadis from the areas which are inhabited by Christian citizens, of whom the Russian Church claims to protect them on Syrian territory, and the Syrian Observatory published on the 6th of June 2019 that a mid continued efforts by the Russians to limit Iranian presence in the Syrian north by reinforcing its points in Tal Rifaat to limit the Iranian expansion in the area, but the Iranians continue to expand in the Syrian south, Deir Ezzor, and other places in Damascus and Rif Dimashq, through continuous attempts to attract men and youth through the network of godfathers and agents there, where converting to “Shiism” operations continues increasingly in the light of the Iranians’ temptation of the people by money and by religious and sectarian speeches, to join their ranks in order to establish their presence in the area in the context of the continuous conflict between them and between the Russians within the cold war between both parties, while the Syrian Observatory published on the 14th of May 2019 that s everal areas in the countryside of Deir Ezzor Province within areas of control of the regime forces, the Iranians, and their loyal militias, are witnessing continuous converting to Shiism operations, especially al-Bokmal, al-Mayadin and the areas around them, through networks of godfathers and agents who are secretly and openly active bringing in more men and youth drawn by the material return, where they exploit the poor living conditions and the religious and sectarian side, and as more men and youth are recruited, it rose to about 1710, the number of Syrian men and young men of different ages who have been recruited in the ranks of the Iranian forces and their militias recently after “Shiism” operations in the west Euphrates area in Deir Ezzor countryside, and the Syrian Observatory published on the 2nd of May 2019 that Iran and its loyal military militias continue to recruit more people in their ranks through continuous recruitment operations in the Syrian south, particularly, within their controlled areas in Daraa Province, where the Syrian Observatory learned from several reliable sources that the recruitment operations for the Iranian Forces the militias loyal to them are underway in the countryside of Daraa through secret and public operations in exchange for money and playing on the religious and sectarian manners; through the continuation of converting to “Shiism” operations, where the Syrian Observatory has monitored the increase of number of volunteers in Syrian south to more than 2910 volunteers, where Iran exploits the concern of the Russian enemy with killing and bloodshed in the Syrian north, to support and enhance its presence in this cold war between both parties, and the Syrian Observatory published on the 17th of April 2019 that the Russian – Iranian conflict continues to be the main Syrian scene, amid a stagnation of the military operations and being limited to ground and air escalation north of Syria, this general calm is being exploited by each party to the most, to strengthen their power on the ground and expand their influence to control the Syrian decision, and the cold war between Iran and its loyal militias on the ground against the Russians and their followers on Syrian territory; is now increasing the power influence of the Iranian side, where despite the main Russian presence within command headquarters and often controlling the Syrian decision;  Iran has managed to expand its influence through the increase of its presence in the Syrian territory since the start of the Syrian revolution, and through standing side by side in clashes on the ground with the regime forces, Iran also managed to expand its influence and attract thousands of Syrians to its ranks not only through the material ways, but also through doctrines and religions ways as well, in addition to joining the young men who are at the age of the compulsory service to their ranks, in exchange for not withdrawing them to serve in the “Army of the Homeland”, all of which have made the Iranians set themselves as the actual ruler over a vast areas that are under the control of the Syrian regime.

While Russia is trying by various means to decrease the influence of the Iranians through coalitions with Turkey and agreements here and there, the latest of which is the Russian-Iranian disagreement over Tal Rifaat area, where Russia promised Turkey to hand over Tal Rifaat in return for opening the international highways of Damascus – Aleppo and Aleppo – Latakia, which Iran refuses due to the presence of Nubl and al-Zahraa of the doctrinal and symbolic significance to it in the area, and at the same time Iran is still going deep into the Syrian provinces through its godfathers, who attract more youths and men and polish the image of Iranians in front of the Syrians, maybe the Syrian south, al-Mayadin, and Deir Ezzor countryside are the best proof of this, where the “Shi’ism” operations continue in a secret and open ways there and they stretch and reach al-Hasaka Province, where areas of control of Syria Democratic Forces, which Russia met with great resentment, and reliable sources told the Syrian Observatory that Russia has informed leaders of the Syria Democratic Forces the need to find a solution to stop the expansion of the Iranians in al-Hasakah and in the Syria Democratic Forces’ controlled areas, and in the context of this Iranian-Russian fray, the Syrian regime remains powerless, and everybody knows that its existence is only a formality and cannot impose its influence and decision on any geographical spot in Syria, even if this spot at the Syrian coast which was its former source of strength, but now it became a battleground in which both Iran and Russia are fighting, just like Damascus, Aleppo, the Syrian south, central Syria, and all the Syrian land under the control of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

While the Syrian Observatory published on the 14th of April 2019 that conflicts over Syrian capabilities and influence in the country continue, by forces trying to stretch within Syria in a variety of ways and means, including political, military, and economical means, in addition to the doctrinal and intellectual ways, and at a time when the international parties are claiming to be heading towards peaceful solutions and the like; the same forces are expanding their control in the Syrian interior, while the conflict rages between Iran and its loyal military militias against the Russians, their followers, and loyalists on the Syrian territory, where the Syrian desert and most of the Syrian territory became a field of the conflict, where the Syrian Observatory monitored the increase in number of volunteers in the ranks of Iranian forces and their affiliated militias recently to about 1385 people, of Syrian youths and men of different ages, within the west Euphrates area in Deir Ezzor countryside, while the number of volunteers in southern Syria rose to more than 2470 volunteers, in a continuation for the Iranian expansion process in the Syrian interior militarily, starting from the west of Euphrates River to the south of Syria and the border With the occupied Syrian Golan, at a time when the Israeli warplanes are carrying out airstrikes and raids on the Syrian territory.

This Iranian expansion has not been accepted by the Russians, their followers, and loyalists on the Syrian territory, where the Iranian expansion from the west of Euphrates River to the south of Syria and from the Syrian-Iraqi border to the Syrian coast has become strong and entrenched, while Russia is working to curb the Iranian rein in Syria, these steps were evident through replacing checkpoints of militias loyal to Iran and the regime in the vicinity of Putin – Erdogan demilitarized area; with members of the forces of the 5th Corps which is loyal to Russia and supported by it, after the demise of the Organization and its end in Baghuz area and east of Euphrates as a dominant military force, but still, the escape operations from the large enclave of the Organization in the Syrian desert continue, where this is the last geographical location for ISIS in the Syrian Desert northeast of Palmyra, and extends within the administrative borders of Deir Ezzor Province, where the Syrian Observatory monitored the escape of members of the Organization out of this enclave, through sabotage operations Organized by members of the militias loyal to Iranian and the regime to deliver them to the frontiers of Idlib province, and to areas controlled by Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and the factions, in exchange of $1500 USD per person, where tens of persons were smuggled and reliable sources confirmed that the smuggling was carried out through transferring members and their families aboard military vehicles and in various ways, to the crossings and to areas of contact with the areas that are not controlled by the regime forces in Idlib, and the Syrian Observatory monitored during the last 3 weeks that the Irani – Russian conflict is not only a struggle for influence, it is a financial struggle as well, a struggle for looting, a struggle for the pockets of Syrians and their money, and a struggle to satisfy the greed of them both, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has obtained information confirmed by credible sources that this conflict between both parties -who are allies of the Syrian regime- turned to a conflict over the checkpoints, power, and inspection points in the Syrian desert, and in the area stretching from Homs to the western bank of Euphrates River, where the Syrian Observatory monitored the presence of about 40 checkpoint of pro-Iranian militias and pro-Russian militias, from the outskirts of Homs city to al-Bokamal city in the eastern sector of Deir Ezzor countryside on the west bank of Euphrates River, where these checkpoints compete and fight over inspection points which generate huge daily profits, and the reliable sources of the Syrian Observatory confirmed that the imposed royalties on them reached about 100 million Syrian pounds on a batch of tankers loaded with oil and its derivatives, where these tanks in particular are not allowed to pass without paying royalties.

the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the Iranian forces -amid this hostility- continuing its intellectual incursions to expand its military influence and control inside the Syrian territory, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the continued movement of Iranian Forces in recruiting more members within its ranks, approaching the population and carrying out more “Shi’ism” operations by joining more residents to the Shiite doctrine by paying money, providing aid, or trying to resolve unresolved issues among the people, and the last of what the Syrian Observatory was able to document is the increase in number of volunteers to the Iranian forces and its affiliated militias recently to about 1200 Syrian youths and men of different ages, within the west of Euphrates area in Deir Ezzor countryside.

The beginning of the Russian stop for Iran inside the Syrian territory and getting it out of the internal solutions and participation in it -despite the Iranian military expansion and at the negotiations level-, was after the stop of the military operation of the regime forces and its allies, after the control of Abu al-Duhur airbase and after they had enough with what the regime forces advanced to, after it managed to control a large number of villages in the eastern and southeastern sectors of Idlib countryside, and the Russians and the regime refrained from advancing to break the siege of al-Fu’ah and Kafriya towns in the northeastern countryside of Idlib, which were inhabited by Shiite citizens with thousands of fighters of both towns, then, Iran and its allies refrained from participating in the process of the Eastern Ghouta or they were prevented by the Russians, while Russia did not start the operations in the south except after a Russian-regional consensus on the return of Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah to a 40 km distance away of the border strip with the occupied Syrian Golan, and after its military withdrawal; the process of controlling the Syrian south began, while the Syrian Observatory monitored earlier the Russian proposal for Hezbollah and Iranians to withdraw and head towards the west of Euphrates to fight the “Islamic State” Organization, after the Iranian forces and Hezbollah refused to go to the Syrian south, and that took place during negotiations about the south of Damascus and the south of Rif Dimashq.

The Syrian south also witnessed extensive volunteer operations by the Iranian forces, who returned after their military withdrawal in the form of recruitment campaigns in their ranks for the Syrian members, in addition to attempting to converting people to “Shi’ism” by paying salaries, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented that in the Syrian south more than 2350 people have joined their ranks, also members of the Iranian forces have been seen repeatedly wandering in the countryside of Daraa and Quneitra, while Russia is working to escalate the process of excluding the Iranians from decision-making positions and controlling the Syrian details, by trying to stop the Iranians in the Syrian coast and the countryside Homs and Hama, and by sizing the Iranian role in Idlib and Aleppo Province, but the widespread Iranian deployment on the military, ideological, and sectarian levels prevents the Russians from stopping the Iranians for the time being, despite the global trend and the Arab trend in particular to fight the Iranian presence especially on the Syrian soil, while Turkey is balancing its relations with the Iranian side greatly.

Where the Syrian Observatory monitored that this enlisting includes both former defected members of the regime forces and those wishing to “settle their situation,” as well as former fighters in ranks of regime’s opponents, and other citizens the sources said that most of them were from al-Quriyah area in the countryside of al-Mayadin city, the sources told the Syrian Observatory that the process of luring the citizens to come was through a monthly salary, and letting them choosing the place of service between going to the battlefronts or stay at the training center west of Euphrates River, in addition to the immunity from the regime forces and from being arrested, where they are enlisted for monthly salaries vary from west of Euphrates to the south of Syria, where these salaries start from US $ 150 to about US $ 300, depending on its proximity to the Syrian border with the occupied Syrian Golan, where the salary increases as the distance to the occupied Syrian Golan gets closer, also the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored continuous attempts by the Iranians to entice civilians in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor on the road to Tehran – Beirut, trying to establish an popular base in the area, which will prevent the loss of the strategic road between Iranian capital Tehran and the Lebanese capital Beirut, which is used by the Iranian forces mainly. these enticing attempts come through their attempts to return the rights of the residents, of those whose belongings were seized by volunteers and conscripts in the Iranian militias, to earn the love of the population and satisfy them and to push them to join their ranks, they also distribute food, clothes, blankets, and other daily tools and study tools, all of them have Persian writings, and the Iranian forces through their spreading are preventing the regime forces from abusing the population and return their belongings to them, where the people now go to the Iranian forces to get back their stolen property taken rights by the regime forces and the militiamen loyal to them.