Disregarding Syria’s laws and media concentration | Iranian-backed militias take over nearly 750 land plots and luxury apartments near Syria-Lebanon border

SOHR sources have monitored ongoing movements by Iranian-backed militias in areas on the Syria-Lebanon border in Rif Dimashq, under supervision and support by the Lebanese Hezbollah, the de facto ruler of this area, as the purchasing of plots of land along the border strip is still on progress. It seems that the Iranian-backed militias disregard the Syria’s laws which ban selling or purchasing any land plots in border areas, while media concentration and coverage, by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in particular, have not hindered such “suspicious” movements.

 

Since early 2021, Iranian-backed militias have purchased over 229 plots of land in Al-Zabadani area and at least 360 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.

 

Moreover, these militias 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 154 so far. These practices take place with full support by the Lebanese Hezbollah which facilitating such operations.

 

On March 22, SOHR sources monitored ongoing movements by Iranian-backed militias in areas on the Syria-Lebanon border in Rif Dimashq, under supervision and support by the Lebanese Hezbollah the de facto ruler of this area. These movements included the purchasing of plots of land along the border strip, despite Syria’s laws which ban selling or purchasing any land plots in border areas and the concentration and press reports by International and local media outlets, including the Syrian Observatory, on such “suspicious” movements.

 

Moreover, Afghani, Iranian, Iraqi and Lebanese militiamen continued 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 120 so far. Also, SOHR sources confirmed that these militias purchased over 200 plots of land in Al-Zabadani area and at least 305 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.

 

SOHR would like to point out again 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.