Iranian military in Syria in May 2021 | Incentives to children and women to join Shiite community…Strengthening of presence in north and middle Syria…hectic movements near Syria-Lebanon border…three Israeli attacks
Iranian forces and their proxy militias still continue strengthening their presence throughout regime-held areas, disregarding the “cold war” with Russians and the repeated airstrikes by Israel and International Coalition, which are unable to put an end to such efforts or even hinder them.
In the following report, SOHR highlights the key developments in areas dominated by the Iranians in May 2021.
West Euphrates region: military reinforcement and recruitment of women and children
-Military sector
Movements by Iranian forces and their proxy militias continued in west Euphrates region, the “Iranian reserve” in Syria, as the Syrian Observatory activists reported on May 1 that the Iranian-backed militias established rocket launchpads with the missiles being oriented to areas under the control of Syria Democratic Forces and the International Coalition in eastern Euphrates.
According to SOHR sources, the Iranian-backed militias established 13 launchpads with surface-to-surface Iranian-made missiles on al-Bateen hills on the outskirts of al-Mayadeen in the east of Deir Ezzor, while nine similar launchpads were established in a barn in Hawi al-Mayadeen area. It is worth noting that all of these rocket launchpads were oriented to east Euphrates region, while the nearest position, al-Omar oil field, is located on the opposite bank of the river. However, no confirmed information was reported regarding the reason behind establishing these rocket launchpads or about their target.
On May 12, Syrian Observatory activists reported the arrival of military enforcement of the local militia of Haj Qassem Soleimani for strengthening its posts and positions in the desert of al-Bokamal and along the Iraq-Syria border strip. According to SOHR activists, nearly 165 fighters came from the areas of Nebl and al-Zahraa in the west of Aleppo to al-Mayadeen. It is worth noting that Haj Qassem Soleimani militia was formed recently in these areas with direct fund and support by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
While on May 13, SOHR reported the graduation of a new batch of dozens of local fighters who would join the “Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps” (IRGC). The new batch included 58 fighters who started a training course on April 28 after being recruited to IRGC lines with 15 working days and 15 days off a month. Iranian militias offered a monthly salary of 120,000 Syrian pounds, in addition to a food basket, and free treatment services for the fighters and their affiliates at medical centers and hospitals that belonged to the Iranian militia. Moreover, IRGC distributed food aid to the members undergoing the training course, after it had concluded.
Furthermore, on May 18, the IRGC-backed militia of “Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas” transferred large amounts of weapons, ammunition and long and medium-range missiles, brought previously from Iraq to Syria, to recently-established warehouses near the monuments of Al-Shabli on the outskirts of al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. It is worth noting that these warehouses were established in a valley with an entrench containing camouflaged cement champers with only one gate for the entry and exit, while soil barriers and bulwarks were set near them with the aim to protect these warehouses from strikes by Israel and the International Coalition.
In late May, Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, that control with their proxy militias the Iraq-Syria border, brought in a new shipment of arms from Iraq to Syria. The shipment included short-range missiles, machineguns and ammunition.
According to SOHR sources, the shipment was divided into two batches, the first has been stored in an area near al-Shibly monuments in Mayadeen city in eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, while the second was stored at the outskirts of Deir Ezzor city.
-Entrenchment of presence
It seems that Iranian forces and their proxy militias save no efforts to strengthen their presence in west Euphrates region by adopting various methods and techniques, including the spreading of their culture, practicing the Shiite ritual and recruitment of adult and young men and even women. SOHR activists in al-Mayadeen city, the capital of the Iranian-backed militias in the region, reported that “Abu el Fadl al-Abbas militia” entrusted nearly 25 women of its militiamen’s families to communicate with other girls and women in al-Mayadeen and convinced them to convert to Shiism. SOHR sources added that the Shia females were also instructed to convince the new affiliates to join some religious courses for explaining the Shiism in some cultural centers by offering them food supplies. This development came in light of Iranian-backed militias’ carrot policies for luring the inhabitants to join their ranks.
While in early May, SOHR reported that the “Shiite Waqf” distributed food supplies and detergent, to the inhabitants of al-Mayadeen city to woo them as a part of the Iranians’ efforts to strengthen their presence throughout Syria, west Euphrates region in particular.
Similarly, in late May, the “Iranian Cultural Centre” started a free course dubbed “Bara’em al-Atfal” (Children Buds) for teaching Syrian children Persian language. This is the second course of its kind, as the first one was held in mid-September 2020. Like the earlier course, the Cultural Center has promised to give cash rewards of one million Syrian pounds each to every children who could pass the Persian language test with an excellent grade. It is worth noting that tens of children headed to the Culture Centre.
-Other developments
On May 20, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) turned the mosque in al-Tamou neighbourhood into a military headquarters. It is worth noting that IRGC had turned this mosque into a “hosayniya”, a congregation hall for Twelver Shia Muslim commemoration ceremonies, for their proxy militiamen, where the Shiite Azan was used and Shiite ritual was practiced, as SOHR revealed at that time. According to SOHR sources, the Iranian-backed militias forewent the mosque and turned it into a military headquarters after they had accomplished the construction of new mosque and “hosayniya” in the same neighbourhood by the Iranian organization of “Jehad al-Benaa”.
Also, on May 22, the Iranian-backed Afghani militia of “Fatemiyoun” informed, via the regime’s agricultural association, the owners of farmlands in villages and towns in the area between al-Mayadeen city and Subaykhan town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, which are under the control of regime forces and Iranian-backed militias, that they had to give the militia a share of 10% of the wheat and barley harvest under the pretext of “protecting their farmlands and facilitating their work”. “Liwa Fatemiyoun” threatened the farmlands’ owners to confiscate all of their wheat and barley harvest if they refused to pay the recently-imposed levy. Moreover, “Liwa Fatemiyoun” appointed supervisors to count the agriculture crops to make sure that the Iranian-backed militia gets the correct share of the harvest.
Aleppo: new military base and ongoing recruitment
Pro-Iran militias established a military base in May on a hill near the bank of the Euphrates River, east of Aleppo. According to SOHR sources, the new military base was located opposite the SDF-held areas, as it was built in the village of Habbouba, between the town of Khifsa and the city of Maskanah, east of Aleppo.
A few days later, these militias brought in military reinforcement and logistical supplies to the new base. While on May 22, the Iranian-backed militias transported weapons and ammunition to the recently-established base on a hill in Habboubah village between al-Khafsah and Maskanah, near the bank of the Euphrates river and opposite areas under the control of the International Coalition and Syria Democratic Forces on the river’s other bank. According to SOHR sources, this reinforcement was brought from west Euphrates region and Homs desert, while the objectives of this operation remained unknown.
Exploiting young and adult men’s dire living condition in Hama
Syrian Observatory activists reported that the Iranian militias exploited the dire living conditions of people in the northern countryside of Hama to recruit them to their ranks.
According to SOHR sources, families of the northern countryside of Hama returned to their villages after the withdrawal of the factions from them, as regime forces regained full control of the area, while the Military Intelligence services in Mihrada region declared their responsibility for all agricultural land and properties, which gave the Iranian militias a chance to enter those villages and recruit young men for their favor.
Moreover, in the village of Latmin, dozens of young men joined Iranian militias in exchange for protecting their properties and income.
It is worth noting that the region experienced ongoing conflicts between regime forces operating in the region and the pro-Iran militiamen over the pistachio trees prevalent in the northern countryside of Hama these conflicts ignited with the beginning of harvest season, as disagreement occur over the share of these militias of the crops.
On the other hand, young men joined the Iranian militias to avoid legal accountability, and to seek security, relief and military support.
Damascus and Rif Dimashq: escalating rivalries and seizure of Syrians’ properties
In Damascus, the southern parts in particular, conflict has escalated between Iranian-backed militia and military groups of the 4th Division since March. This conflict followed the blocking of side streets and major roads linking Sayeda Zeinab area and the areas of Babella and al-Hujayrah in southern Damascus. According to SOHR sources, dozens of militants from al-Nujaba’ Movement were deployed on these roads with the aim to prevent the 4th Division from entering the nearby farms in areas around the positions where the Iranian-backed militias were stationed for unknown reasons.
According to SOHR sources, the disagreement has noticeably escalated in the recent time, as some members and commanders of al-Nujaba’ Movement seized several farms and buildings between Sayeda Zeinab and Babella, where they were stationed. This development coincided with deployment of groups of the 4th Division in areas around the area where the Iranian-backed militias were recently stationed. It is worth noting that this dispute came as a part of the ongoing “cold war”, as it did not turn into an armed fight. A few days earlier, members of the 4th Division attempted to open one of the roads blocked by the Iranian-backed militiamen between al-Hujayrah and Sayeda Zeinab, but the militiamen forced the heavy machineries, which were attempting to lift the soil barriers, to suspend their work following an altercation between the two sides.
Syrian Observatory sources also 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 continued. 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.
In this context, SOHR activists confirmed that the Iranian-backed militias purchased over 285 plots of land in Al-Zabadani area and at least 405 plots in Al-Tufayl border area since early 2021, turning the region into an “independent” village headed by H.D. who is close to the Lebanese Hezbollah commanders.
Moreover, these militias 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 202 so far. These practices take place with full support by the Lebanese Hezbollah which facilitating such operations.
Homs: Lebanese Hezbollah tops the scene with enormous wealth
Iran continues its efforts to impose influence over the entire Syrian geography, despite rivalry by the Russians and cold war between the two sides in light of the symbolic regime domination. Being the ultimate Iranian-backed influential power in Syria, the Lebanese Hezbollah comes the top of events at a time when the Iranians have entrenched their presence at all levels, including the military and economic sectors, via their affiliates and proxy Syrian and non-Syrian militias.
For years, Hezbollah has made too much money through narcotics trafficking as well as its domination on oil fields with the Iranians and their proxies, exploiting the situation on the ground and the Syrian people’s dire living conditions.
Observatory confirmed that smuggling fuel from Lebanon and promoting in Syria has been alarmingly escalated. Such operations run by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the forces of the 4th Division, headed by Maher al-Assad who is the brother of the Syrian regime’s president, exploiting the economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian regime. Under such sanctions, the Syrian regime is unable to meet the people’s need of fuel, which spur the Syrians to turn to the black markets. With the Lebanese Hezbollah taking advantage of the current situation, it has brought in massive amounts of fuel, mostly petrol and oil, from Lebanon to Syria via unofficial crossings it controls in Homs countryside, turning the region into a major source for black markets throughout Syria.
According to SOHR sources, the prices of fuel that Hezbollah trade in are set as follows:
- Oil: 2,000 SYL per litre
- Petrol “octane 95”: 2,500 SYL per litre
While the regime’s official prices are as follows:
- Oil: 185 SYL per litre
- Petrol “octane 95”: 750 SYL per litre
It is worth noting that Hezbollah sells fuel in Syria at prices that are five times higher than in Lebanon. For example, a can of petrol is sold in Lebanon at three USD, while it is sold in Syria at 16 USD.
On the other hand, recruitments of young and adult men continued by a charity in Homs city, both the city’s inhabitants and displaced people from other provinces, with full support by Iran’s proxy militias, mainly the Lebanese Hezbollah. According to SOHR sources, the number of new recruits in the Iranian-backed militias since March 2021 has reached 240. It is worth noting that the new recruits are entrusted to protect and guard the Iranian’s oil pipe line stretching from Iraq to Homs, particularly the part form Syria-Iraq border to Homs. Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed militias continue offering financial incentives, exploiting the economic hardship in Syria which the Syrian regime’s president is the only one to be blamed for.
Israel’s violation to Syria’s sovereignty
In May 2021, Israel carried out three attacks on Syrian territory on three occasions, monitored and documented by the Syrian Observatory as follows:
On May 5, Israeli airstrikes hit military positions of regime forces and Iranian-backed militias in both countryside of Hama and Latakia.
In Hama, the airstrikes hit weapons and ammunition warehouses in mountains and forests in the area of Deir Shmail in the western countryside of Hama near the administrative border with Latakia.
While in Latakia, several airstrikes hit military headquarters, weapons and ammunition warehouses in the south of al-Haffa.
Also, in Suq al-Jumaa, an area contains old villas in southern Latakia, several explosions were heard, but it is was not known if they were caused by Israeli airstrikes or shrapnel of the missiles of the regime’s air-defences, as regime’s air-defence batteries were located near Suq al-Jumaa.
-On the other hand, one civilian was killed and over five others, including a woman and three children, were injured as well as the destruction of a plastic factory belonging to a civilian in Ras Shamra and Ras al-Ain in Latakia countryside. SOHR sources confirmed that eight members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxy militias were killed in these attacks, and the fatalities were distributed as follows:
- Five members of IRGC of Iranian and Afghan nationalities were killed as a result of the Israeli airstrike on their headquarters in Deir Shmail in the western countryside of Hama near the administrative borders with Latakia
- Three IRGC-backed militiamen, one of whom was Syrian while the two others were of non-Syrian nationalities, were killed by the Israeli strikes on the countryside of Latakia.
Moreover, nine people were injured.
-On May 6, an Israeli helicopter flying over the Syrian Golan struck, with two missiles, a regime military post in the early hours of Thursday morning. The targeted post, which is located nearby Jbata al-Khashab town in the north of al-Quneitra, near the occupied Syrian Golan, hosts members of the reconnaissance and monitoring brigades of the Lebanese Hezbollah. The strike left three members who were stationed in the military post injured.
On May 10, an Israeli helicopter struck a place where a person working for the Lebanese Hezbollah was in, near Ein al-Tineh in the west of Hadar in the Syrian Golan. The man was taken to the hospital in al-Quneitra after he was seriously wounded. According to SOHR sources, the targeted person was from the occupied town of Majdal Shams, and resided in the town of Hadar. It is worth noting that the targeted man’s father had detained in the Israeli prisons, and his two brothers were killed in previous battles against the opposition factions in the northern countryside of al-Quneitra.