Deir Ezzor | 4th Division promotes Iranian goods smuggled from Iraq through imposing levies on local goods

The regime-backed 4^th Division, which is also close to Iranian-backed militias, continue clamping down on civilians in Al-Mayadeen in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, which has ignited public discontent and renewed tension between the two sides.

 

In this context, the 4^th Division continues imposing large levies on commercial goods, especially foodstuffs, brought from different Syrian provinces, mainly Damascus, which has led to dramatic increase in the prices of those goods, as well as the delayed delivery and unavailability.

 

Accordingly, a large number of residents have found themselves obligated to depend on goods smuggled from SDF-controlled areas on the eastern bank of Euphrates river and Iranian and Iraqi goods which are readily available in Al-Mayadeen markets and all areas dominated by Iranian-backed militias. Such goods are smuggled from Iraq by individuals working for Iranian-backed militias; this means that repression practiced by the 4^th Division aims at increasing residents’ willingness to buy goods smuggled from Iraq.

 

With the growing tension between the region’s residents and the 4^th Division, SOHR activists documented, with pictures and videos, the arrival of a security committee of the 4^th Division in Al-Mayadeen city in eastern Deir Ezzor from Damascus. The column arrived yesterday, where command held a meeting to discuss the growing tension in the region.