The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Iranian training camps permeate the region, extending from the perimeter of Damascus International Airport to al-Marj area in eastern Ghouta

Iranian infiltration continues throughout Syrian regime-controlled areas, most recently around the capital Damascus. Several reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory that Iranian-backed militias, of Syrian, Iraqi and Lebanese nationalities began to set up new training camps, earlier this month, in the farms of Al-Sayyida Zeinab and Aqraba in south of the capital Damascus.

According to Observatory sources, the Iranian-funded Iraqi militia “Harakat al-Nujaba” has set up military headquarters and training centers on the farms near Damascus International Airport road in Hatitet Al-Turkmen town of Eastern Ghouta of Damascus to Shebaa Farms.

Civil sources inside Eastern Ghouta have informed SOHR that Hezbollah forces had fortified the airport of “Marj al-Sultan” for military helicopters by building concrete blocks inside the airport, and closing all side roads to the perimeter of the airport and deploying military posts on the farms surrounding the airport.

Pro-Iranian militias have also set up new military bases in Widian Al-Rabie area, east of Eastern Ghouta, in countryside of the capital Damascus. Pro-Iranian militias have brought Syrian members from various Syrian provinces, who volunteered in their ranks, to the camps in the village of Widian Al-Rabie to undergo training to use heavy and light weapons. A large number of civilian homes in the village was bulldozed by pro-Iranian militias and was turned into firing ranges, while the rest was turned into military headquarters.

On the other hand, regime forces reopened the road between Tishreen thermal power station and the military airport of “Al-Domir”, after being closed for years due to the resurgence of Islamic State cells in the area.