Ongoing redeployment | Iranian-backed militias change positions throughout Deir Ezzor province for fear of future attacks

Deir Ezzor Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: SOHR sources have reported that Iranian-backed militias continue deploying troops and changing positions in Al-Mayadeen and Al-Bokamal cities, near the Syria-Iraq border, as well as other areas in Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

SOHR activists have monitored frequent redeployments by Iranian-backed militias after Israel’s recent attack on Deir Ezzor city, as these militias transferred military materiel and camps to other positions.

 

On January 8, SOHR sources reported that Iranian forces and their proxy militias evacuated several positions on the outskirts of the cities which came under attack by unidentified drones, as a group of Iranian-backed militias was deployed in residential neighbourhoods for fear of future airstrikes, while the other group was deployed in affiliated posts.

 

Observatory sources had reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian-backed local militias completely withdrew their heavy weapons from their military headquarters in Al-Mazari’e area on the outskirts of al-Mayadeen city in east Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

Iranian militias transported a large number of military vehicles and heavy gears to the city of Mayadeen, and then redeployed these vehicles in different neighbourhoods in the city, such as al-Bal’oum and Al-Majari areas in the city. The area of Al-Mazari’e, which is located nearly 20 km to the west of al-Mayadeen city, contains the largest positions of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and local militias. Since early April 2019, Iranian militias have been stationed in this area, after seizing some 150 farms owned by the people of Al-Mayadeen, and then turned them into military training centres containing heavy equipment and hundreds of members of “Zainebiyoun, Fatimiyoun and Iraqi Popular Mobilization” militias.

 

According to Syrian Observatory sources, the evacuation came in light of the repeated attacks and recent escalation on Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and loyal militias in the area.

 

It is worth noting that 57 people were killed, on January 13, in Israeli airstrikes on positions, weapons warehouses, ammunition and missiles depots affiliated to regime forces, the Lebanese Hezbollah, Iranian forces and their proxy militias in the area between Deir Ezzor city and the Syria-Iraq border in Al-Bokamal desert.