Iran’s military expansion in Aleppo | Pro-Iranian militias continue strengthening their influence, purchasing real estate and wooing tribal elders

Iranian movements continue in various Syrian provinces through “Shi’aism” proselytising operations and offering financial incentives, where SOHR sources from Aleppo, the economic capital of Syria, say that Iranian-backed local and foreign militias continue purchasing real estate in different neighbourhoods in the city, exploiting the catastrophic living conditions.

Moreover, Iranian-backed militias’ purchases of real estate, including houses and commercial shops, are concentrated in the eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo city, whose residents were displaced years ago, as part of demographic change in the area.

At the same time, Iranian militias continue to expand their presence in Aleppo by wooing tribal elders and dignitaries, exploiting the tribal loyalty and customs as many tribe members obey the orders of sheikh (head of the tribe). Therefore, wooing the tribes’ elders and sheikhs means ensuring the clan members’ loyalty.

This comes in light of widespread popular discontent in Aleppo, as the majority of people in the region reject the Iranian presence.   

On March 14, SOHR sources said that as all Syrian provinces experience catastrophic economic situation, dire living conditions, lack of job opportunities and astronomically inflated prices, Iranian-backed militias’ purchases of real estate at high prices continued throughout Syria.

Reliable sources in Aleppo city have told SOHR that Iranian-backed local and foreign militias have purchased a large number of real estate in the city’s eastern neighbourhoods after these neighbourhoods’ residents had been displaced a few years ago and regime forces captured them. These neighbourhoods included Al-Marjah, Bab Al-Hadid, Al-Mayser and the Old Aleppo neighbourhood. The Syrian Observatory would like to point out that such purchases are escalating a day after another.