Exploiting humanitarian access to disaster-stricken areas | Iranian-backed militias bring in weapons and ammunition shipments from Iraq

Iranian-backed militias continue exploiting Syrians and the disastrous situation after the devastating earthquake for their narrow interests. In this context, SOHR activists have confirmed that Iranian-backed militias brought in shipments of weapons and ammunitions in the past few days from Iraq to their positions in Deir Ezzor province.

 

According to SOHR sources, Iranian-backed militias exploited the access of humanitarian assistance from Iraq for Syrians affected by the earthquake, which hit the region on February 6, where the militias brought in three weapons shipments containing short and medium-range missiles, ammunitions and logistical equipment. Two shipments were unloaded in warehouses in Al-Bokamal countryside, near the Syria-Iraq border, and the third was unloaded in a warehouse in the outskirts of Deir Ezzor city.

 

Yesterday, SOHR sources reported that the Iranians and their proxy militias save no efforts to achieve military and political gains serving their narrow interests in Syrian territory. Ironically, Iranian-backed militias have exploited the dramatic consequences of the violent earthquake, which hit Syria on February 6, attempting to show off their influence and woo and impress residents in specific areas, mainly Aleppo city.

 

When the disaster took place, Iranian-backed militias formed rescue teams for participating in rescue efforts, removing rubble, recovering bodies and searching for survivors.

 

With the arrival of humanitarian assistance for the earthquake victims in Syria, the Iranians exerted diligent efforts to supervise the distribution of this assistance, so that they could polish their image in front of media outlets, as a part of their efforts to entrench their presence in Aleppo.

 

On the other hand, Iran’s government found itself obligated to provide humanitarian assistance for Syrians, especially with the arrival of successive convoys provided by Arab states, including those opposing Iran’s presence in Syria. In this context, vehicles of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces carrying humanitarian and relief assistance, under a campaign dubbed “the relief mobilization,” arrived in Syria from Iraq in the past hours. The vehicles toured Aleppo city’s streets, where members aboard these vehicles were carrying posters of the former IRGC-backed Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

 

It is worth noting that 128 resettlement centres were opened in mosques in Aleppo city and countryside, while charities paid rental fees of houses in which thousands of earthquake-affected residents were settled.

 

Meanwhile, local authorities informed the city’s inhabitants to evacuate houses in danger of collapsing and those sustained partial damage.