Despite their large presence in Syrian desert | Pro-Iranian militias’ role in desert poses big questions, as they launch “timid” anti-ISIS operations

In light of major military operations in the Syrian desert, including intensive ISIS operations in western Euphrates, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, Homs and Sweida, or anti-ISIS security campaigns by regime forces and loyal militias, supported by the Russians, the issue of the Iranian presence in the Syrian desert has come to the fore, as the Revolutionary Guard and pro-Iranian militias of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities are deployed in many locations over a large area in the Syrian desert, particularly the area from Deir ez-Zor to Homs.

 

However, pro-Iranian militias’ participation in military operations against ISIS is very “timid”, and the group’s intensive operations have not inflicted great damage on Iranians unlike the regime and its loyal militias. For example, since late March 2019, the group has killed 1,319 people in the desert, of whom only 145 pro-Iranian militiamen, less than a tenth of the number, which raises several questions, as these militias are located in al-Sukhna, the perimeter of Palmyra and locations its rural, at the “T-4” military airport and on the western banks of the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor.

 

It is worth noting that these militias have a shared control with the Russian side of the airport of T-4 in countryside of Homs, where Iran, Russia and the Syrian regime are located . Iran had withdrawn in 2019 from the military airport of Shayrat in the same countryside, while Russia and the regime remained there.

 

Since 24th of March 2019, SOHR has documented the killing of at least 1,319 regime soldiers and loyalists of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, including at least two Russians, and 145 Iranian-backed militiamen of non-Syrian nationalities. All were killed in attacks, bombings and ambushes by the “Islamic State”, west of Euphrates in the deserts of Deir Ezzor, Homs, and Al-Suwaidaa.

 

Also, four civilians working in gas fields, 11 shepherds and four other people were killed and documented by SOHR in the same period, from late March 2019 until today. They were killed in attacks by ISIS cells. While 733 ISIS members were also killed in attacks and bombardment in the same period.