The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

After attack on its members | Iraqi Hezbollah militia intensifies patrols in Homs

Homs province: SOHR activists have reported that the Iraqi Hezbollah militia intensified its security patrols on the road between Mahin and Huwarin towns all the way to Al-Qaryatain town in eastern Homs countryside.

This followed the attack by unidentified gunmen on one of its patrols on January 29, leaving five members injured.

According to reliable SOHR sources, patrols of the Iraqi Hezbollah intercepted civilians and cars that cross the area, and asked for their names in search of wanted suspects for “dealing and communicating with ISIS” and “informing ISIS military information regarding checkpoints of Iran-backed militias in the area.”

The south eastern countryside of Homs near the area of Mahin warehouses had witnessed reinforcement of checkpoints and military positions of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards militia during the past week, in the form of establishing earthen beams near the checkpoints in fear of potential attacks by ISIS members, who intensified the rate of military attacks recently on positions of regime forces and its militias.

The procedures of the security patrols of the Iraqi Hezbollah milia sparked a wave of discontent among residents of villages and towns of south eastern Homs countryside, amid their fear of attacks by members of Hezbollah, especially after one of Hezbollah’s patrols was subjected to an armed attack that is believed to be committed by ISIS members.