Amid warnings against individual actions | Iranian-backed militias withdraw rocket launchpads oriented towards Coalition bases in east Euphrates
SOHR sources have reported that the command of Iranian-backed militias has ordered affiliated military formation to stop military activities completely and to stay in headquarters, and it has entrusted the military police to punish everyone involving in individuals actions.
SOHR sources have reported that Iranian-backed militias started last week to withdraw all rocket launchpads which had been installed near Euphrates river, precisely the area stretching from Al-Bokamal to Hatlah running through Al-Mayadeen which hosts the largest gathering of Iranian-backed militias in Deir Ezzor. It is worth noting that this area is opposite SDF-controlled areas and International Coalition bases.
It is not known yet if these movements come as a part of new orders aiming at showing calm in the region as a preparation for an undeclared attack or the militias intend to focus their efforts on the use of drones, especially since Iranian-backed militiamen have trained recently by the Lebanese Hezbollah on the use of drones. This training coincided with military drills by International Coalition Forces in the bases of Al-Omar oil field and Koniko gas field.
On September 3, reliable SOHR sources in Deir Ezzor countryside reported that Iranian-backed militiamen of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities were redeployed and transported their materiel to new positions, fearing possible attacks on their positions in light of the ongoing flights by International Coalition reconnaissance drones.
According to SOHR sources, Iranian-backed militias transported rocket launchpads, which had been installed near Abdul Munim Riad school in Al-Mayadeen city, to the second water station in the south of Deir Ezzor province. Moreover, ten artillery pieces, their staffs and Lebanese trainers of topography and dealing with coordinates have been redeployed in positions in the south-west of Deir Ezzor province.
On August 31, Observatory sources reported that a commander of the Lebanese Hezbollah visited Al-Mayadeen city in Deir Ezzor countryside.
The commander who is known as “Hajj Sajjad” met with Iran-backed militias’ commanders and ordered them to form cells in east Euphrates region working for Iranian-backed militias in order to launch attacks on U.S. bases and use kamikaze drone from distances close to the US bases to ensure they are not spotted by ground defences.
Reliable sources informed SOHR that International Coalition Forces asked the intelligence services working with them in Syria for intelligence information on the sites where members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliated militias were deployed.
This came after installing rocket launchpads by Iranian-backed militias, on the bank of the Euphrates river and in the area stretching from Al-Mayadeen to Al-Bokamal at the Syria-Iraq border.