Iran’s presence in Syria in April 2022 | Remarkable exploitation of Russia’s preoccupation with war on Ukraine…growing tension near Lebanon border… ongoing expansion in Homs, Hama 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 April 2022.

Major exploitation of Russians’ preoccupation with war on Ukraine in west Euphrates

On April 11, Iranian-backed “Iraqi Nujabaa Movement” completed preparing a camp for several local recruits of the movement near a salt mine in Al-Tabani area in western desert of Deir Ezzor countryside.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, the camp includes several sections, including military and intellectual training courses, hosting nearly 100 members per course.

Meanwhile, members of Iranian-backed militias stationed at checkpoints imposed new levies on food, vegetable and fruit cargo trucks coming to Al-Bokamal city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, these militias imposed a levy on each truck of 100,000 to 150,000 SYP.

It is worth noting that the checkpoints of regime and Iranian-backed militias throughout Syria impose levies on food and goods trucks in return for allowing them to pass without rigorous inspection. These measures deepen the suffering of the people in light of the economic crisis, scarcity of job opportunities and lack of essential goods and staple foods due to the economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian regime and the rampant corruption in state institutions.

While, on April 13, the Afghan “Liwaa Fatimyoun” militia transferred two trucks loaded with Iranian-made medium-range missiles, ammunition and other weapons from Al-Shably archaeological area in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, west of Euphrates.

According to SOHR sources, the trucks headed to eastern Homs desert, where hectic movements by Liwaa Fatimyoun militia were detected recently.

Also, on April 13, the Cultural Centre in Al-Mayadin city in Deir Ezzor countryside started courses on nursing and first aid, where the Centre promised those who would pass the course with a “good” grade to be hired in the Iranian hospitals. Two days earlier, the Centre started courses for Quran memorization for children under 15.

On April 20, he militia of “Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas” saw the graduation of a new batch of nearly 100 recruits in Al-Mayadeen area, the “capital of the Iranians in Syria.” Meanwhile, the militia continued registering and admitting Syrian young and adult men on a daily basis to undergo training courses in that region. These courses were under the direct supervision of officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which supports and finances “Abu Al-Fadl Al-Abbas” militia.

In the meantime, Iranian-backed militias withdrewn on April 21 from positions on Euphrates river bank in the vicinity of Al-Bokamal city in Deir Ezzor countryside, and were stationed in the neighbourhoods of the city.

According to reliable SOHR sources, Liwaa Fatimyon militias withdrew forces from Al-Bokamal water station and three posts near the bridge a day earlier.

Similarly, Hashimyon militias withdrew from Jisr Al-Suway’aya post, while the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces withdrew from Al-Hankar post, and the National Defence Forces withdrew from a post in Huwejat Al-Sahin.

Moreover, on April 23, Iranian-backed Afghan militia of “Liwaa Fatimiyoun” expelled “National Defense Forces” members from the former immigration and passport building at the entrance to Al-Bokamal city and from NDF headquarters in Al-Kitf area on the outskirts of Al-Bokamal border city with Iraq, east of Deir Ezzor.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, ” Liwaa Fatimiyoun” militiamen smashed the locks and vandalised all the contents of offices and flats that were controlled by the “National Defense Forces”.

On the same day, April 24, Iranian-backed militias brought a convoy of dozens of trucks from Iraq into areas under their control in western Euphrates.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, the number of trucks, which were loaded with weapons and ammunitions, including Iranian-made medium-range missiles and logistical supplies, approximated 34 covered trucks. These trucks headed towards Deir Ezzor military airport and elsewhere in Al-Mazare’ area in Al-Mayadeen countryside, east of Deir Ezzor.

This came in light of escalating Iranian activity in Syrian territory as the Russians are preoccupied with their war on Ukraine.

Entrenchment of presence and expansion in Hama and Homs

On April 2, the Afghan Liwaa Fatemiyoun distributed relief supplies to some families in the neighbourhoods of Al-Amiriya and Al-Ma’alef, and Al-Dawwa Al-Zera’iyah area in Palmyra city in the eastern countryside of Homs in an attempt to woo the residents. While on April 5, the Iranian-backed Afghan militia of Liwaa Fatemiyoun, which is stationed in and around Palmyra city, established some new posts in a site called “Al-Shajarah” (the Tree), nearly 13 kilometres away from Palmyra city centre, fearing possible attacks by ISIS cells from Palmyra desert. The Afghan militia boosted these posts and provided them with infrared security cameras and heavy weapons. Liwaa Fatemiyoun also boosted its posts nearby Palmyra city, providing them with heavy machineguns.

In south-eastern countryside of Homs, however, militiamen backed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Maheen city in the south-eastern countryside of Homs paid visits to herder families in areas around and nearby the city. The IRGC-backed militiamen demanded the herder families to pay levies/money periodically in return for allowing them to stay and herding their cattle in this area. This coincided with ongoing oppression by Iranian-backed militias on Syrian people.

Similarly, members of Liwaa Fatimyoun demanded of owners of salt plants in Palmyra city to pay monthly levies in return for allowing them to continue their business in the city under the pretext of “protecting those plants from being robbed. The militiamen also threatened to close the salt plants if the owners rejected to pay the levies.

Military activities

-Homs

In late April, SOHR sources reported that the Lebanese Hezbollah, under the supervision of experts of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, established workshops for the manufacture of artillery shells, rockets, and landmines and the maintenance of drones and various kinds of weapons. The new workshops were established in fortified weapons and ammunitions depots in the “strategic” area of Maheen in the south-eastern countryside of Homs, which is the second-largest area hosting weapons depots in Syria. According to Syrian Observatory sources, a large number of people from Maheen town in Homs countryside have worked for Iranian-backed local militias since regime forces and Iranian-backed militias captured the area in early 2017, with Russian air support.

-Hama

Iranian-backed militias also expanded their influence in Hama countryside by transforming the site of the “47^th Brigade” in Jabal Maareen in the southern countryside of Hama into a military base of Al-Quds Corps, where this base and Hama airbase have become the command centre of Iranian-backed militias in Hama province. According to Observatory sources, the Iranian base at Jabal Maareen hosts a training centre for Iranian forces, while military reinforcements comprising advanced weaponry and military personnel have recently arrived in the base. It is worth noting that the 47^th Brigade had been a tank brigade affiliated with the 11^th Division of the Syrian Army, before it became under full control of the Iranians.

Growing tension between Hezbollah and Maher Al-Assad’s forces near Syria-Lebanon border

Since early April, the Lebanese Hezbollah established several military posts near the crossing used for smuggling on the outskirts of Sarghaya on the Syria-Lebanon border. Meanwhile, a state of tension is growing between the regime-backed National Defence Forces (NDF) and Hezbollah because the new posts were established near the routes used by NDF to smuggle drugs, goods and people between Syria and Lebanon.

According to SOHR sources, areas on the Syria-Lebanon border had recently experienced hectic movements in the wake of the escalating disagreements between the Lebanese Hezbollah on one hand and regime forces and their proxy militias on the other over revenue-sharing of smuggling operations.

Moreover, Hezbollah has boosted its military posts and headquarters in the area expanding from Al-Zabadani city to western Qalamon, where it has erected soil barriers in front of the posts, dug tunnels and trenches around them and installed Syrian flags on its posts, fearing possible Israeli attacks.

According to SOHR sources, tension has noticeably escalated recently between commanders of both “mafias,” which dominate the border area, over combating the prices of narcotics and possession of routes used for smuggling goods, fuel and drugs between Syria and Lebanon. Meanwhile, civilians in these areas are concerned about the eruption of deadly clashes between the two sides, especially since the area stretching from Al-Demas to Assal Al-Ward in Qalamoun experiences almost-daily tension manifested in establishing checkpoints by members of Hezbollah and the 4th Division with the aim of confiscating smuggled goods belonging to the other side from and to Lebanon.

Three Israeli attacks leave heavy human and material losses

As Israel continues to violate Syria’s sovereignty, SOHR documented three attacks waged by Israel on regime and Iran’s military positions and outposts in April. These attacks left ten fighters, including four of non-Syrian nationality, dead. Here are further details of these bombardments:

• April 19: Israeli missiles hit five military outposts in west Hama countryside, targeting the vicinity of the faculty of administration, scientific research centre, a military post in Al-Suwaidah village and a military post on the outskirts of Masyaf.

• April 15: Israel fired missiles on military positions in the vicinity of Rakhla town and near the poultry areas between Ambiyah and Kaf Qouq towns in the vicinity of Qatna, south-west Rif Dimashq, that hosts a military site of Iranian-backed militias and Palestine Liberation Army.

• April 27: Israeli missiles hit military outposts in the vicinity of Sahnaya, Jabal Al-Sumariah near the 100th regiment, the mountain near Damascus international airport, an area between Damr and Qudsaya, as well as Al-Kiswah area in Rif Dimashq which hosts military positions of regime forces, Iranian-backed militias and Lebanese Hezbollah militias. The Israeli attack left ten military personnel: six Syrians and four non-Syrian fighters, dead. Israeli missiles also led to the destruction of weapons and ammunitions warehouses in Al-Sumariyan area and the mountain near Damascus international airport, as well as the destruction of outposts in military barracks in Sahnaya and Al-Kiswah.

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), renew our appeal to the international community, United Nations, and UN Security Council to intensify their efforts to force Iranian forces and their proxy militias out of Syria and bring all criminals, perpetrators of violations and all those who aided and abetted the killing and displacement of Syrian people to justice.