Under Lebanese Hezbollah supervision and support | Iranian-backed militias continue purchasing land plots and seizing apartments near Syria-Lebanon border
As Iranian-backed militias continue to strengthen their presence near the Syria-Lebanon border, under the supervision of the Lebanese Hezbollah, foreign militias continue purchasing plots of land on the border strip between Syria and Lebanon, disregarding Syria’s laws which ban selling or purchasing any land plots in border areas.
According to SOHR sources, the Afghani, Iranian, Iraqi and Lebanese militias have purchased over 165 plots of land in Al-Zabadani area and at least 250 plots in Al-Tufayl border area, turning the region into an “independent” village headed by H.D. who is close to the Lebanese Hezbollah commanders.
Meanwhile, Iranian-backed militiamen continue taking over luxury apartments and villas in Bludan area and other surrounding areas, bringing the number of villas and apartments these militiamen inhabited in to 97 so far.
It is worth noting that these practices are backed and supported by the Lebanese Hezbollah, which now has the ultimate influence in this region, at a time when the Syrian regime is preoccupied clamping down on Syrian civilians.
On February 16, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored a new Iranian expansion in Syrian territory, where Arab and foreign militias loyal to Iran settled near the Syrian-Lebanese border under the supervision of the Lebanese Hezbollah.
Syrian Observatory sources have said that Iranian, Iraqi and Afghan militias have recently confiscated luxury apartments in Bludan area and other areas nearby, and turned them into accommodation for them and their families. The majority of these militias are Afghans. The number of villas and apartments confiscated has reached more than 69 so far, most of which owned by Syrians live abroad.
The Iranian expansion is also included the purchase of land along the Lebanese border, despite laws prohibiting the sale and transferring ownership of border land. However, these militias seem that they are not covered by the laws. The Syrian Observatory has monitored the purchase of more than 140 land by these militias in al-Zabadani area, while al-Toufil border area, which is one of the densest areas in that region, has seen the largest purchases of land so far, as 200 land has been purchased. A Syrian person, known by his initials as (H.D.), is facilitating these operations, who hails from al-Toufil and one of the most prominent figures in the border area from the Syrian side.