After today’s attacks | Dare Iran use the recently-arrived weapons against US positions and bases in NE Syria?!

With the new US attacks on Iranian-backed Iraqi militias near Al-Qa’em crossing in Al-Bokamal countryside in eastern Deir Ezzor, on the Syria-Iraq border, questions raised almost daily by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Dare Iran target US positions and bases in north-east Syria?! And is Iran able to use weapons it periodically brings to its positions against US forces?!, come to the fore.

 

SOHR has been all along confirming that the weapons shipments periodically brought by Iran and its proxy militias come in the wake of the “US-Iran conflict”, especially since the Iranian forces and their proxies’ participation in military operations against ISIS is “timid”. In less than one month, SOHR activists monitored at least four weapons shipments brought to Syria from Iraq. These developments also coincide with US denial of the reinforcement it brings to Syria and the establishment of new positions in north-east Syria region.

 

Yesterday, SOHR sources reported the arrival of logistical and military reinforcement affiliated to US forces operating within the International Coalitions with the aim to accomplish the construction of the new military base in the surrounding areas of Al-Omar oil field in Deir Ezzor countryside.

 

In February, SOHR sources reported that International Coalition Forces intended to establish an airfield in that base. Meanwhile, these forces carried out drills and maneuvers in surrounding areas.

 

It is worth noting that the base of Al-Omar oil field is the largest US military bases in north-east Syria. Besides, it is the starting point of security campaigns and airdrops against ISIS cells, and it contains heavy weapons and a helicopter pad.

 

The US and Coalition forces’ recent movements on the bank of the Euphrates river coincided with the arrival of military reinforcement of the Iranian-backed militias which have been stationed on the opposite bank. SOHR sources had monitored Iranian-backed militias bringing in surface-to-surface missiles shipments in trucks used for transporting vegetables and fruit from Iraq to their positions on the Euphrates river bank in Al-Mayadeen area, which is located 14 kilometres away from the US base in Al-Omar oil field.

 

On February 22, reliable sources informed SOHR that the Iranian-backed Afghani militia of “Liwa Fatemiyoun” brought in a new weapons shipment to its positions in west Euphrates region.

 

According to SOHR sources, the new shipment, which included shells, missiles and ammunition, entered Syria exactly at 05:30 Syria time aboard vegetable trucks from Iraq, via an unofficial crossing. The trucks headed to Al-Mazare’ area on the outskirts of Al-Mayadeen in eastern Deir Ezzor, which hosts the largest gatherings of Iranian forces and their proxy militias.

 

SOHR sources also reported that the recently-arrived shipment were stored in tunnels dug previously by ISIS in Al-Mazare’ during its control of the area.

 

While on February 20, Reliable SOHR sources from the western banks of the Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor said that a new shipment of weapons was brought in by Iranian forces and loyal militias to Syrian territory from Iraq.

 

A day earlier, three “vegetables and fruit” trucks were used as camouflage, were loaded with Iranian weapons and ammunition, which entered from an illegal crossing between Iraq and Syria near the village of Al-Abbas, which belongs to al-Jala area in the countryside of Albu Kamal city, east of Deir ez-Zor. Iran uses these illegal crossings to transport weapons and ammunition, and the shipment was unloaded in that area. No information has been reported as to whether shipment was transported to other Iranian positions.

 

While on February 11, reliable sources told the Syrian Observatory that an unidentified drone targeted that morning a car carrying a shipment of weapons coming from Iraq, near an illegal military crossing between Iraq and Syria. The crossing is used by militias to move between the two countries and to bring in reinforcement and shipments near the city of AlbuKamal in eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.

 

Meanwhile, violent explosions were heard in the area after the car loaded with ammunition and weapons was targeted, which resulted in the destruction of the shipment and the death of four militiamen.

 

While on January 29, reliable sources informed SOHR that short and medium range surface-to-surface Iranian missiles arrived in positions of the Iraqi Hezbollah nearby the regime-controlled town of Al-Tabani in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor. According to SOHR sources, the missiles, whose number reached 56, were brought in to Syria in civilian trucks via unofficial crossings between Syria and Iraq.