West Euphrates region | Ongoing redeployment by Iranian-backed militiamen near “Qassem Soleimani highway”

SOHR activists have reported that Iranian-backed militias continues redeployment in west Euphrates region which is under their control, in particular in the city of Bokmal and its surroundings near the Syria-Iraq border in east Deir Ezzor countryside, along “Qassem Soleimani highway”.

 

Fearing repeated attacks, Iranian-backed militias change their posts and positions and transport weapons from warehouses and store them in other warehouses, as a part of precautionary plan. This development comes in light of the recent escalation of aerial operations by unidentified drones, which destroyed 11 targets in 70 days and left dozens dead and injured.

 

Yesterday, the Syrian Observatory documented nine airstrikes between September 4, 2021, and November 15, 2021, one of which was executed on al-Mayadeen, while the others were executed on positions in al-Bokamal. For years, the Iranians sought for imposing their influence on the key city until Qassem Soleimani managed to impose control on al-Bokamal in 2017. Accordingly, Soleimani could secure the highway between Tehran and Beirut, running through Syria and Iraq. The highway was named after Qassem Soleimani, exactly after his death in January 2020.

 

Despite the noticeable drones attacks on Iranian-backed militiamen in west Euphrates region, exactly the strategic city of al-Bokamal near the Syria-Iraq border, neither Israel nor the International Coalition has claimed responsibility for these attack. Although there are confirmed reports stating that the drones that carry out these attacks are affiliated to the International Coalition, US forces in particular, the attacks have been documented under attacks by unidentified drones. It is suggested that US forces evade claiming responsibility for these attacks in order not to engage in a direct conflict with the Iranians in Syrian territory.

 

According to SOHR statistics, the nine airstrikes have left 14 fatalities among the Iranian-backed militias of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities and over 27 others injured, some seriously. The attacks also destroyed at least 11 targets.

 

Further details of these airstrikes could be summarised as follows:

 

• September 4: unidentified drones attacked three trucks of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces near the Syria-Iraq border in al-Bokamal countryside. The attacked destroyed the trucks and left three militiamen dead and others injured.

 

• September 27: Unidentified drones struck al-Mazare’ area in al-Mayadeen desert, which hosts the largest gathering of Iranian-backed militias in the west Euphrates region, destroying Iranian-made surface-to-surface missiles launchpads that had been established by the Iranian-backed militias in that region. Moreover, the attack and rockets’ shrapnel wounded at least 12 pro-Iran non-Syrian militiamen, and they were taken to al-Shefaa hospital which is affiliated to these militias in al-Mayadeen city. Meanwhile, the targeted site was cordoned off and the Iranian-backed militias were seen on high alert.

 

• September 30: Observatory activists reported hearing several explosions in Deir Ezzor countryside, near the Syria-Iraq, caused by an attack by unidentified drone on positions of the Iranian-backed militias in the region. According to SOHR sources, the drone was seen flying in the region this evening and targeted positions in al-Katef area near al-Bokamal city with two missiles at lease. Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed militiamen attempted to shot down the drone with heavy machineguns.

 

• October 8: Fires broke out in some military headquarters of Iranian-backed militias nearby Aiysha hospital in al-Bokamal city in Deir Ezzor countryside, after an unidentified drone attacked these headquarters. The drone attack coincided with the sound of heavy gunfire in al-Bokamal city, as the Iranian-backed militias were attempting to shot down the drone using anti-aircraft machineguns. Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed militias were seen on high alert in al-Bokamal city on the Syria-Iraq border, amid unconfirmed reports of shooting down the drone after the attack.

 

• October 11: Four members of Iran-backed militias were killed due to airstrikes by unknown drones on positions and posts of those factions in al-Bokamal region near the Iraq-Syria border in east of Deir Ezzor. The fatalities included a Syrian militiaman, while the nationalities and identities of the other three militiamen remained unknown.

 

• November 9: Unknown drone attacked areas under the control of Iranian-backed militias on the outskirts of al-Bokamal, but no casualties have been reported.

 

• November 10: At least seven Iranian-backed militiamen were killed due to airstrikes by unknown drone, which targeted positions and weapons warehouses in al-Bokamal city in east Deir Ezzor countryside. According to SOHR sources, the deaths included three Syrians who worked for the Iranian-backed militias. However, the nationalities of the other four militiamen remained unknown. Moreover, the airstrikes destroyed warehouses of weapons and ammunition.

 

• November 15: Unidentified drones struck positions where Iranian-backed militias were stationed on the outskirts of al-Bokamal city in the eastern countryside of Dei Ezzor. Plums of smoke were seen in the targeted sites. However, no casualties were reported.

 

• On the same day, November 15: SOHR activists reported hearing loud eight explosions in al-Bokamal city in eastern Deir Ezzor, caused by airstrikes by unidentified drones on Iranian-backed militias’ positions. The attacks destroyed a headquarters where weapons and ammunition were stored.

 

In the same period, from September 4 to November 15, Iranian-backed militias redeployed in towns and villages in the area between al-Mayadeen and al-Bokamal, on the Syria-Iraq border in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, as a part of ongoing camouflage operations. Such operations included changing posts and positions where these militias were stationed. A few days ago, Iranian-backed militias replaced their flags with the internationally recognized Syrian ones in some posts and military headquarters of these militias in al-Bokamal city.

 

Furthermore, the Iranians transported weapon shipments from al-Rahba fortress and from the weapons warehouse in Athar al-Shalby area in eastern Deir Ezzor to their posts, positions and headquarters where they were redeployed.

 

Similarly, the Lebanese Hezbollah transported weapons and ammunition from west Euphrates region, the pro-Iran militias’ “colony” in Syrian territory, to the Hezbollah positions on the Syria-Lebanon border in the Rif Dimashq. According to sources, Hezbollah trucks transported weapons and ammunition from Iranian-backed militias’ warehouses near Athar al-Shalby area in al-Mayadeen countryside, east of Deir Ezzor. The trucks took Deir Ezzor-Damascus highway to the Syria-Lebanon border in Rif Dimashq where they were unloaded in Hezbollah positions in the region’s barren mountains.

 

Also, Iranian-backed militias bring in military reinforcement on a daily basis to their posts and positions.