Iran’s presence in Syria in August 2022 | Human and material losses in ten attacks by Israel and Coalition…escalating movements in Homs desert and west Euphrates region

Iran and its proxy militias have unprecedented influence in most areas under the “symbolic” regime control, as neither attacks by Israel and the International Coalition, nor the “cold war” with Russia could hinder the alarming entrenchment and expansion of these forces across Syria. Strengthening their presence and promoting their ideology, the Iranians are still carrying on with their systematic plan to change the demography of different areas throughout Syria’s geography.

 

In the following report, SOHR highlights the key developments in areas dominated by the Iranians in August 2022.

 

 

Coalition airstrikes and militias’ preparations for responding attacks

 

Exchange of ground fire between International Coalition Forces and Iranian-backed militias increased alarmingly in the last ten days of August. According o SOHR sources, Iranian-backed militias stationed in west Euphrates region targeted military positions of the International Coalition in Al-Omar oil field and Koniko gas field, before Coalition Forces responded by aerial and ground attacks targeting positions of these militias in Deir Ezzor.

 

SOHR documented five airstrikes by the International Coalition in those ten days, which killed 11 militiamen and caused considerable damage to the targeted sites. Here are further details of these airstrikes:

 

• August 24: Six Iranian-backed militiamen were killed in more than three airstrikes with high-explosive missiles. The attack also destroyed warehouses in Ayyash area and “Al-Sa’ka” camp, one the headquarters of the Afghan militia of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun.”

 

• August 24: Three Iranian-backed militiamen were killed in an attack by the International Coalition on a rocket launcher which had been stationed nearby Deir Ezzor city.

 

• August 25: Two Iranian-backed Syrian militiamen were killed in heavy machinegun fir by a Coalition helicopter on positions of Iranian-backed militias near the industrial high school, “Al-Wehda Al-Irshadiyah” (the Guidance Units) the headquarters of Al-Baath Party in Al-Mayadeen city in eastern Deir Ezzor.

 

• August 25: A drone struck the vicinity of the industrial area in Al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

 

• August 25: International Coalition helicopters opened heavy machinegun fire on positions of Iranian-backed militias near the areas of Al-Kornish, Al-Tanmiyah Al-Rifiyah and Dawwar Al-Taybah in Al-Mayadeen city in the east of Deir Ezzor province.

 

 

Meanwhile, Iranian-backed militias raised the combat readiness of all affiliated rocket brigades in Al-Mayadeen city, where rocket brigade of Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas militia kept additional surface-to-surface missiles in the perimeter of Abdul Munim Riad school on standby.

 

Furthermore, “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” installed 12 rocket launchpads in Al-Khanat area on the outskirts of Al-Mayadeen city.

 

Also, the Iraqi Hezbollah militia which is stationed in Al-Mazare’ area in Al-Mayadeen desert reloaded its rocket launchers with rockets and kept them on alert as a part of preparations for responding any attacks on their positions.

 

Similarly, the Afghan militia of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” deployed missiles in Huwayjat Sakr area in Deir Ezzor city and aimed them towards “Koniko” gas field, which was targeted on August 25. According to reliable SOHR sources, every missile was estimated to be of eight metres in length.

 

Also, Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas deployed Iranian-made missiles so close to civilian houses near Abdul Munim Riad school in Al-Mayadeen city and oriented them to Al-Omar oil field.

 

On August 31, a commander of the Lebanese Hezbollah, who is known as “Hajj Sajjad,” visited Al-Mayadeen city in Deir Ezzor countryside where he met with Iranian-backed militias’ commanders and ordered them to form Iranian-led cells in east Euphrates region in order to launch attacks on U.S. bases and use kamikaze drone from distances close to the US bases, so that they would not be spotted by ground defences.

 

 

West Euphrates region

 

As Iranian-backed militias seek to strengthen their presence and expand their influence over Syria, SOHR monitored escalating activities of Iranian-backed militias in west Euphrates region which was turned into “Iranian colony in Syria.” Here are the key developments in that region in August 2022:

 

On August 11, Iranian-backed militias held a funeral reception tent in the security zone area in Al-Tamou neighbourhood in Al-Mayadeen city, commemorating the anniversary of the killing of the “Chief of Martyrs,” “Imam Husayn” (Husayn Ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib). This mourning gathering was attended by Iranian-backed senior commander in Deir Ezzor, including the following:

 

1- Al-Haji Hasan, the commander-in-chief of Iranian-backed militias in Al-Mayadeen.

 

2- Al-Haji Askar, the commander-in-chief of the Iranian-backed militias in Al-Bokamal city.

 

3- Al-Haji Kameel, the commander-in-chief of Iranian-backed militias in Deir Ezzor.

 

4- Al-Haji Sajjad, the deputy commander-in-chief of Iranian-backed militias in Al-Bokamal city.

 

5- Al-Haji Hussein, the director of Iranian cultural centres in Deir Ezzor.

 

In addition, several leaders of Iranian-backed local militias in Deir Ezzor attended the mourning ceremony.

 

According to SOHR sources, the mourning ceremony for Imam Hussein, included a re-enactment play of the scene of the killing of Imam Husayn,” as well as practicing Shia’a rituals, such as “Al-Latmiyyat” (self flagellation). This comes under strict security measures, including banning of taking pictures or filming the ceremony with mobile phones.

 

On the same day, August 11, violent clashes erupted in Al-Hirri town in Deir Ezzor countryside adjacent to the Syria-Iraq border between the Iraqi Hezbollah and smugglers from the town. The clashes, which lasted for hours, followed disagreements over revenue-sharing of smuggled stuffs.

 

According to SOHR sources, the clashes erupted between the sons of a man known by his initials as H. A. on one hand, and militiamen of the Iraqi Hezbollah, led by the official in charge of the security and economic affairs of Al-Bokamal-Al-Qa’em border crossing between Iraq and Syria, who is called “Abu Rama Al-Iraqi,” on the other.

 

The clashes caused material damage, including the breakdown of a military car affiliated to the Iraqi Hezbollah, before the commander-in-chief of Iranian-backed militias in Al-Bokamal interfered to break up the clashes. The man ordered the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to withdraw and demanded the sons of H. A. meet together and discuss the reasons behind this dispute. However, the outcomes of the meeting remained unknown.

 

It is worth noting that H. A. and “Abu Rama Al-Iraqi” worked together in smuggling drugs, weapons, cigarettes, mobile phones and other stuffs across the Syria-Iraq border. SOHR sources confirmed that disagreements erupted previously between the two men on several occasions, but they did not evolve into armed clashes.

 

While on August 13, Iranian-backed militias tested Iranian-made medium-range missiles and rocket launchers. SOHR activists reported hearing several explosions in the Syrian desert, as the militias deployed the rocket launchers in Al-Mayadeen desert and fired several missiles aimlessly on the desert. According to SOHR sources, these missiles and rocket launchers were manufactured in Iranian-run arms workshops on the outskirts of Al-Mayadeen, under supervision of Iranian experts.

 

Also, on August 23, Iranian-backed militias celebrated the graduation of 70 local recruits affiliated to the Afghan militia of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun,” after having undergone an ideological and military course for 45 days in “Al-Sa’ka camp” in Ayyash town in western Deir Ezzor.

 

Similarly, the IRGC-backed militia of Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas saw the graduation of a new batch of 85 recruits, mostly individuals who had struck reconciliation deals with the Syrian regime. The new recruits were brought to Ain Ali spring in Al-Mayadeen city to get blessing of water there as a part of ritual practiced by Iranian-backed militias.

 

 

Noticeable military movements in Homs desert

 

The last month’s developments in west Euphrates region affected the areas dominated by the Iranians in Homs desert, especially since Coalition Forces are stationed in Al-Tanaf area. In this context, mechanised digger, heavy diggers and earth-moving machineries arrived, on August 6, in Al-Alyaniyah village, nearly 70 kilometre to the south of Palmyra in the Syrian desert, with the aim of establishing fortified posts for Iranian-backed militias which dominate the village and its surroundings.

 

While on August 24, commanders of Iranian-backed militias stationed in Palmyra city in east Homs countryside in the Syrian desert evacuated some positions in the city, fearing potential attacks on these positions. According to reliable SOHR sources, the commanders were stationed and deployed in the Court House and the opposite Al-Kuwaity villa. This followed a meeting between the Coalition and commanders of Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra in Al-Tanf area on that day.

 

Also on August 29, Iranian-backed militias stationed in Palmyra city, Al-Qaryatayn and Mahin summoned civilians, who worked for International Coalition-backed forces, although they had struck reconciliation deals with the Syrian regime. The militias interrogated those civilians without informing or coordinating with regime security services in these areas.

 

 

Four militiamen killed in ambushes and armed attacks

 

In August, SOHR documented the death of four non-Syrian militiamen, three of whom were killed on August 21 in an ambush by ISIS members in Palmyra desert in the eastern countryside of Homs. The fourth fatality was of a commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was killed in Aleppo province by a Syrian man of the Shiite community from Nebl or Al-Zahraa towns in the northern countryside of Aleppo. It is not known yet if the commander was murdered over personal disagreement with the murderer or as a part of a regional agenda.

 

 

Ongoing Israeli attacks

 

As Israel continues to violate Syria’s sovereignty, SOHR documented five Israeli attacks that left heavy human and material losses. Here are further details of these attacks:

 

• August 12: An Israeli tank fired shells on Al-Himaydiyah area in Al-Quneitra countryside at the border with occupied Syrian Golan, injuring two people.

 

• August 14: Three regime soldiers were killed and several others were injured in an Israeli attack which hit a base of the air-defence forces and a radar system’s unit in Abu Afsah village, five kilometres to the south of Tartous city on the Syrian coastline. The targeted posts are located nearly eight kilometres away from the Russian base. Israeli missiles also hit a regime military post in Al-Qutyfah area in Rif Dimashq.

 

• August 25: A regime soldier was killed in Israeli strikes that hit warehouses in the vicinity of Masyaf in west Hama countryside. The Israeli missiles also hit positions and ammunitions and weapons depots of Iranian-backed militias in areas on Wadi Al-Oyun road to the west of Masyaf, the scientific research area, Al-Suwaidah area to the south-east of Masyaf and Al-Jalimah area. Following the attack, successive loud explosions were heard for hours, while SOHR documented the injury of 14 civilians. According to SOHR sources, the Iranian missiles, which exploded in the warehouses targeted by the Israeli attack, were assembled over the course of more than a year and their number is estimated to be more than 1,000.

 

• August 31: Three Israeli missiles hit ammunitions and weapons warehouses of Iranian-backed militias nearby Aleppo international airport, while a fourth missile hit the perimeter of the airport. However, no damage to the airport’s runway. It is worth noting that Russian and regime forces are stationed inside Aleppo international airport, while the Iranians are prohibited from using the airport for any military activities, although the airport is used by Iranian airlines which transport “Shai’a pilgrims,” as they claim. According to reliable SOHR sources, Russian forces stationed inside the airport had prior knowledge of the Israeli airstrikes, as they were put on high alert ten minutes before the strikes.

 

• August 31, a regime soldier was killed in Israeli attack with two missiles on regime military positions hosting militiamen of the Lebanese Hezbollah in south-eastern Rif Dimashq. The attack also injured three persons whose nationalities remains unknown. Regime air-defences managed to shot down one of the missiles, before it reached its target. The targeted sites are located a few kilometres away from Damascus international airport and Sayeda Zeinab area.

 

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) is used to hearing the Syrian regime’s empty mantra that it always reserves the right to respond to Israeli attacks. However, regime forces do not hesitate when it comes to shelling opposition positions or bombarding residential and civilian areas inside Syria. The Iranians also dare not launch a large-scale military operation against Israel, as they know full well that they will be facing the might of Israel’s military, so the Iranians seem satisfied with letting its proxies do its bidding by firing only a few rockets from time to time on the occupied Syrian Golan, using the Iranian and Hezbollah-backed movement “Syrian Resistance to Liberate Golan”.

 

At a time when the Syrian regime “intercepts and downs” Israeli missiles only with a Russian green light, Israel can hit Iranian targets -with the purpose of undermining the Iranian military presence in Syria- and only with Russia’s full consent.

 

On the other hand, Washington justifies Israel’s stance that “Tel Aviv practices its legal rights to defend its security and interests against the Iranian direct threat”, not to mention the US desire to get Syria free of Iranian forces and militias.

 

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), call for keeping the Syrian civilians out of the regional conflicts as the targeted areas and facilities are owned by Syrian people alone, not by Iran or its proxy militias.

 

SOHR stresses the importance of expelling the Iranian forces and militias from Syria without risking the safety and lives of civilians or damaging Syria’s public properties and facilities.