Ongoing demographic change | Iranian-backed militias continue purchasing civilians’ properties in al-Raqqah countryside
As Iranian-backed militias of various nationalities continue their efforts to entrench their presence in Syria, with the help of their affiliates and pro-Iran prominent Syrian figures, SOHR sources in al-Raqqah countryside have reported that these militias continued taking over the civilians’ properties, including houses, farmlands and shops. These properties have been purchased by Syrian individuals affiliated with the Iranian-backed militias from al-Bokamal and al-Mayadeen areas in eastern Deir Ezzor, as it is the case in eastern and western Ghouta in Rif Dimashq.
According to SOHR sources, the Syrian individuals recruited by the Iranian-backed militias managed to purchase more real estate units in al-Raqqah countryside, bringing the total number of properties they have owned since July 2021 to 155 houses, apartments, shops and farmlands. These properties are located in Ma’adan city and countryside and other areas under the control of the Syrian regime in al-Raqqah countryside. It is worth noting that these individuals paid the money requested by the properties’ owners without bargaining.
On Saturday, reliable sources informed the Syrian Observatory that al-Nujabaa Movement which is affiliated to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps started to prepare a factory for manufacturing mortars, launchpads of surface-to-surface missiles and bullets of various calibers. The factory is located in a farm belonging to people who are living abroad, seized previously by Iranian-backed militias, on the outskirts of Maadan city in the eastern countryside of al-Raqqah province.
On September 25, militias affiliated to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps transported Iranian-made “Volcano H2” missiles from their weapons warehouse near al-Shibli archaeological site in al-Mayadeen desert in eastern Deir Ezzor to areas and positions of Iranian-backed militias in Ma’adan area in the eastern countryside of al-Raqqah.
It is worth noting that the missiles were transported in trucks under heavy guard. However, it is not known if the transport of these missiles to al-Raqqah was a part of preparations by IRGC-backed militias to attack International Coalition bases in eastern Euphrates or for other reasons.