Fearing recruitment by Iranian-backed militia | Seven young men from Al-Mayadeen join Russian-backed 5th Corps
Deir Ezzor Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Reliable sources have informed SOHR that seven people from Al-Mayadeen in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor have joined the Russian-backed 5th Corps in west Euphrates region for fear of being forced to drive to the Iranian-backed militia of “Al-Sheikh Brigade”. Meanwhile, two other young men have fled to SDF-held areas in Al-Tabaqah area from areas under the control of the Iranians in the west of Euphrates for fear of being forced to drive to military service in regime army.
On February 3, reliable SOHR sources in the city of Al-Mayadeen in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside confirmed that the commander of the brigade “Al-Sheikh” of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, known by his initials as (A.A.), met last night with the sheikhs and elders of the tribes of “Akidat, Al-Mashahda, Al-Baqqara, Al-Qali’een, Al-Busaraya, Al-Qara’an and Al-Juhaysh” at his guest house located on the Corniche street near the water station in the city of Mayadeen.
According to Syrian Observatory sources, the commander of the pro-Iranian “al-Sheikh” Brigade informed the meeting that he was personally delegated by the leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to ask the tribes of the region to form proxy forces affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, consisting of tribesmen from the region.
The pro-Iranian “al-Sheikh” brigade commander added that the leadership of the Revolutionary Guard will provide military and material support to these tribesmen, and he explained to elders of the tribes that the task of these tribal forces will be to support Iranian militias only in their military operations in the region.
He ended his meeting with tribal elders by having a dinner and promised to coordinate direct meetings between the IRGC leadership and tribal elders.
While on January 16, reliable sources informed SOHR that a group of members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s “47th Regiment” arrived in the SDF-held areas in Deir Ezzor countryside, after crossing the Euphrates River separating the areas held by Iranian militias in Al-Bokamal countryside. The group consisted of eight local members from the area, who fled with their weapons to SDF-held areas, where they are still hiding. In the meantime, pro-Iranian militias have intensified patrols in the area in search of the fleeing members, and to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.