The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Ongoing Iran-Russia conflicts | Russian patrol tours east Al-Ghoutah amid withdrawal of 4th Division troops

Rif Dimashq province: Reliable sources have told SOHR that a Russian patrol consisting of fiver armoured vehicles and two cars have arrived, several days ago, in Al-Marj region in east Al-Ghoutah while Russian helicopter were flying over the region. The patrol has conducted two reconnaissance rounds over the regime’s spreading regime checkpoints in Al-Nashabiyah and Outabah districts.

The Russian patrol has also met with several dignitaries and elders in the region while the 4th Division troops have withdrawn from the regime checkpoints on the road between Al-Nashabiyah and Outabah districts and handed them to a military intelligence division. The Russian patrol continued its tour for two hours before returning the Damascus.

This comes in light of the Iranian-Russian conflict across Syria, as the military intelligence is considered a part of the military formations serving under the Russian wing, while the 4th Division is part of the formations serving under the Iranian wing.

On December 26, reliable sources informed SOHR that the “4th Division troops withdrew from all military checkpoints stationed in Arbein and on the outskirts of Zamalka in Eastern Ghouta in Rif Dimashq. The troops withdrew from eight checkpoints in the presence of Russian Military Police and handed them to the military intelligence division.

On December 12, reliable sources told SOHR that Iran-backed “4th Division” troops, led by Maher Al-Assad, the brother of the Syrian regime president, withdrew from seven checkpoints stationed in Rif Dimashq, to its military barracks from those checkpoints, leaving them to the military intelligence division, but reasons behind the move remained unknown.

The seven checkpoints are as follow:
• Al-Chiyah checkpoint, stationed on Zakiah-Khan Al-Shih road.
• Al- Diwan checkpoint, stationed on Al-Deir Hebiya-Khan Al-Shih road.
• Checkpoint in the orchards of Zakiah town.
• Checkpoint at Al-Deir Hebiya town roundabout.
• Checkpoint at the entrance to Mesaraba city in Eastern Ghouta.
• Two checkpoints on the agricultural road linking the cities of Masraba and Douma.