Al-Mayadeen city | Iranian-backed militias put on high alert, as a convoy comprising senior commanders arrives
Deir Ezzor Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: SOHR activists have reported seeing Iranian-backed militias being put on high alert in Al-Mayadeen city and surrounding areas along with the arrival of a convoy of senior commanders affiliated to these militias, from Deir Ezzor city.
Meanwhile, the area near Al-Bel’oum roundabout in Al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor experienced a noticeable great deployment of militiamen who were securing and escorting the convoy to military positions in the area.
On March 23, reliable sources have told SOHR that Iranian-backed militias seized a large number of shops and houses in Al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. According to SOHR sources, the Iranian-backed militias taken over ten houses and 30 shops under the pretext that “these real estate are belonging to anti-regime individuals”.
The seized houses and shops were located in Al-Tekiyah and Al-Arba’in streets and Al-Mayadeen city’s market, where an Iranian-backed commander turned some of these houses into military headquarters while the rest were handed over to “Al-Sheikh Brigade” to turn them too into military headquarters. While the shops have been rented and the rent dues would go to the Iranian-backed militias’ commanders.
While on March 13, reliable sources told SOHR that armed groups of the IRGC-backed militia “Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas” seized Al-Qal’a petrol station in Al-Bel’oum area on the outskirts of Al-Mayadeen city, at direct orders by the militia’s commander in the region, known as “Adnan Al-So’oud Abu Al-Abbas”
According to SOHR sources, the owners of the seized petrol stationed complained to “Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas” militia’s commander who told them that he would rent the station and pay the rent due later. However, the Iranian-backed commander did not pay for the petrol that was already existing in the station when it was seized.
It is worth noting that “Adnan Al-So’oud” is from Al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, and he had worked as a greengrocer and also worked in a bakery affiliated to regime security services, before he escaped to Damascus.
After regime forces and Iranian-backed militias captured the region, Al-So’oud returned to Al-Mayadeen where he formed “Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas” militia, backed and financed directly by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is also worth noting that “Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas” militia is the largest Iranian-backed local militia in Al-Mayadeen area in the east of Deir Ezzor. Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that Adnan Al-So’oud plays a significant role in purchase real estate from their owners in Al-Mayadeen area for the favour of the Iranians.