Iran’s presence in Syria in September 2022 | SOHR reports on drug business in west Euphrates confuse Iranian-backed militias while military movements in Homs desert noticeably escalate

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 September 2022.

 

 

Considerable military movements in Homs desert

 

SOHR has monitored hectic movements by Iranian-backed militias in Homs province in September, as the Lebanese Hezbollah brought in military reinforcement to Mahin area in east Homs countryside on September 1. The reinforcement comprised militiamen and five 4×4 pickup vehicles with heavy submachine guns installed over them, and they were deployed in an area nearby Mahin city.

 

Meanwhile on September 3, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) militia transported weapons and rockets from their headquarters near Al-Awras area in Homs countryside to fortified positions near Khattab village in Hama countryside, fearing possible attacks by Israel.

 

Similarly, on September 4, Iranian-backed Afghan militia of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” militia transported several drones from positions nearby the archaeological city of Palmyra to Palmyra military airbase in the eastern countryside of Homs. According to SOHR sources, the Afghan militia stored these drones inside several fortified hangars. Meanwhile, “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” started training a group of its fighters, under the supervision of IRGC officers, on the use of drones at Palmyra military airbase.

 

Also, on September 11, 35 militiamen of the Syrian Hezbollah, who had been trained and armed by the Lebanese Hezbollah, arrived in Palmyra city in east Homs countryside from Al-Sokhnah desert with their full materiel and vehicles. The militiamen were stationed in Palmyra city and its surroundings and set up posts, after having received information about potential attacks by ISIS on their whereabouts in Al-Sokhnah desert.

 

On September 19, Iraqi Hezbollah and Afghan militia of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” brought in military reinforcement from Deir Ezzor to east Homs desert. The recently-arrived reinforcement comprised vehicles, machineries, military personnel and logistical and medical supplies that were deployed in an area between Arak village and Arak gas field, nearly 35 kilometres away from Palmyra city, near Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway. This military reinforcement was brought to that area with the aim of protecting the field from possible attacks by ISIS cells.

 

In late September, “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” turned the so-called “industrial stadium” in Palmyra city in the eastern countryside of Homs into a training centre for training its members only on the use of weapons, where the militia had transported weapons and ammunitions. Observatory sources added that the second section of the stadium was turned into a parking for the vehicles and private cars of militiamen and commanders of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun.” Moreover, the Afghan militia opened a workshop for repair broken-down cars. It is worth noting that the “industrial stadium” is located near Iranian-backed militias’ headquarters in Palmyra city.

 

Palmyra city also experienced a bizarre development in September, which was the first of its kind across the entire Syrian geography, as Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) opened an “intelligence information and documentation centre” at one of their headquarters near Palmyra national hospital. SOHR sources reported that the mission of the centre is manifested in gathering information on “hostile actors.” The new centre is considered as a reference to all Iranian-backed militias deployed in the eastern countryside of Homs.

 

 

West Euphrates region: Removal of military manifestations, subsiding military activities and redeployments top the events

 

Military activities

 

On September 3, 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 were redeployed in positions in the south-west of Deir Ezzor province, fearing possible airstrikes by the International Coalition.

 

While on September 5, the command of Iranian-backed militias ordered affiliated military formations to halt all military activities and to stay in headquarters, and it entrusted the military police to punish everyone involving in individuals actions. This came a week after Iranian-backed militias had withdrawn 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.

 

On the other hand, the Lebanese Hezbollah arrested tens of its Syrian militiamen and handed them over to regime forces. According to SOHR sources, some of the arrested militias were driven to mandatory conscription in regime army, while nearly 20 militiamen were accused of “communicating with the International Coalition,” as Hezbollah is concerned about disloyalty of its Syrian militiamen.

 

In the second ten days of September, Al-Mayadeen city, the “capital” of Iranian-backed militias in east Syria, experienced the removal of military manifestations over concerns about possible attacks by the International Coalition. According to SOHR sources in Al-Mayadeen, Iranian-backed militias evacuated their outposts and checkpoints in Al-Mayadeen city and countryside, where militiamen withdrew to unknown positions, away from residential areas. Moreover, a group of trucks with Lebanese drivers arrived in Al-Mayadeen city, before they headed towards Al-Bokamal city. Meanwhile, pictures, taken by SOHR camera, showed the removal of military manifestations in all military positions and posts of Iranian-backed militias in Al-Mayadeen city in Deir Ezzor countryside, while no guards were seen in the city’s outposts.

 

On September 21, loud explosions rocked the vicinity of Al-Haydariyah where Iranian-backed militia headquarters are located in Al-Mayadeen area in east Deir Ezzor countryside. According to SOHR activists, three explosions, believed to be caused by the explosion of weapons depots of Iranian-backed militias, were heard in the region.

 

A day later, September 22, explosions of unknown origin were heard in areas dominated by Iranian-backed militias in Al-Duwair and Al-Abbas areas in Al-Bokamal near the Syria-Iraq border. These areas host military positions of Iranian-backed militias. These explosions coincided with the flight of unidentified aircraft over the area, amid reports of the arrival of a weapons shipment in Syrian territory.

 

In late September, Iranian-backed militias re-escalated their military activities once again, where they sent 4×4 pickup and heavy vehicles from Al-Esharah area in Al-Mayadeen to Deir Ezzor city and Al-Raqqah. Meanwhile, military manifestations returned once again in areas dominated by Iranian-backed militia as they were before the latest strikes by the International Coalition in late August 2022.

 

On September 29, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted military exercises at their military camp in Mazare’ Al-Haydariyah, Ain Ali shrine and Mazare’ Issa in Al-Mayadeen in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. Nearly 100 Iranian-backed militiamen of Al-Sayyida Zaynab Regiment, the Special Forces Regiment and the 47th Regiment underwent to this course of military exercises, after an Iranian-backed Lebanese commander had arrived in Al-Mayadeen.

 

While on September 30, members of the Iranian-backed Afghan militia of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” evacuated their headquarters in Al-Arba’in street in Al-Mayadeen city. The new destination of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” militias remained unknown. On that day, seven buses carrying members of the regime-backed 17^th and 18^th Divisions arrived in Al-Mayadeen city, where those members were deployed in the desert and another area in Al-Mayadeen countryside, near Al-Bokamal.

 

 

Infightings

 

West Euphrates region experienced three infightings in west Euphrates region in September, with the first taking place on September 13 when clashes erupted between two groups of Iranian-backed militias in Al-Bokamal city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, near the Syria border with Iraq. However, There are no confirmed information about the reasons behind this infighting which left several people injured, amid unconfirmed reports of the death of at least one person.

 

The second infighting was documented in mid-September when clashes erupted between Iranian-backed Syrian militiamen and members of a joint patrol of the National Defence Forces and military security service, after the Iranian-backed backed militiamen threw a grenade on the patrol’s members.

 

While on September 28, clashes erupted between a group of the 4^th Division and a group of the military police in Al-Qusour neighbourhood in Deir Ezzor city following the arrest of a member of the 4^th Division by the military police.

 

 

Luring children

 

On September 27, the “Iranian Cultural Center” in Al-Mayadeen city in east Deir Ezzor countryside distributed school bags and stationeries to several students of primary school in the city, particularly the children of Iranian-backed Syrian militiamen. According to SOHR activists, phrases were written on the bags and stationeries which read “it is a gift to friends of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” This came as a part of ongoing “Shi’aism” proselytising operations (conversion to Shiite) by Iranian-backed militias in Deir Ezzor.

 

 

SOHR exclusive reports on drug business spark fears among Iranian-backed militias

 

Iranian-backed militias emptied a building used as a laboratory for manufacturing illicit drugs in Al-Mayadeen area in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. It is worth noting that this primitive laboratory was among the laboratories which the Syrian Observatory mentioned in the report which was posted on September 9. SOHR report disclosed details on locations where narcotic are manufactured in areas dominated by Iranian-backed militias in Deir Ezzor and a list of militias involved in drug business in these areas.

 

According to reliable SOHR sources, the laboratory was emptied of compressors and illicit pills at night under high security procedures. Photos taken by SOHR activists a few days earlier showed guards on the roof of that building. While the latest photos, also taken by SOHR activists, showed the building after being emptied. However, no information were reported about the new place to which the compressors and illicit pills were transported. Sources suggested that the laboratory’s contents were transported to Al-Mazare’ area in Al-Mayadeen countryside.

 

On September 29, the Iranian-backed militia of “Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas” brought in a military convoy of 15 vehicles carrying fighters from Damascus suburbs to its positions in the eastern countryside of Aleppo where Iranian-backed militias are stationed, amid the growing influence of the Afghan militia of “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” and other Iranian-backed local militias.

 

Iranian-backed militias have frequently redeployed their forces, fearing attacks by Israel which repeatedly hit positions in Damascus and Rif Dimashq.

 

 

Ongoing Israeli attacks

 

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

 

• September 6: Three Iranian-backed non-Syrian militiamen were killed and five others were wounded by Israeli strikes on on warhouses of Iranian-backed militias nearby Al-Malikiyah neighbourhood, near Aleppo international airport. The strikes destroyed the warehouses and caused large blazes. Also, at least two missiles hit the runway of Aleppo international airport, causing considerable damage and putting the airport out of service.

 

• September 17: Seven people: five members of the regime’s air-defence forces and two Iranian-backed non-Syrian militiamen, were killed in an Israeli attack which hit positions in Mazare’ Al-Ghasolah near Damascus international airport, the vicinity of Al-Sayda Zainab area and Al-Keswa area in Rif Dimashq, where Iranian-backed militias are stationed.

 

 

Separately, SOHR documented the death of ten Iranian-backed militiamen of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities in different areas across Syria in September. According to SOHR sources, eight militiamen were killed by ISIS in the Syrian desert, which the other two were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Homs and Rif Dimashq.

 

 

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.