To avoid airstrikes | Iranian militias hide and reposition themselves in Al-Bokamal on Syrian-Iraqi border

Deir Ezzor province: SOHR sources reported that Iranian militias have begun to reduce their public presence in Al-Bokamal city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor and areas near the Syrian-Iraqi border, as many headquarters in the security zones have been evacuated of foreign and local members and a very limited number of local members have been kept as guards only. The city also witnessed a significant decrease in the presence of members and in the activity of patrols and deployed checkpoints, which were supervised by militias such as the Iranian “Revolutionary Guard” and the Afghan “Fatmiyoun”.
According to the sources, some checkpoints have been replaced by local members in small numbers, especially at the two checkpoints at the entrance to Al-Suwaiyah city and the end of the city at Al-Sukariyah roundabout. At the same time, the militias distributed large quantities of weapons in warehouses spread between Al-Bokamal and Deir Ezzor, fearing airstrikes on any new shipments.
Sources confirmed that the leaders of the foreign militias left the area after the recent bombing and headed to the Iraqi side to manage operations remotely. Despite this, recruitment operations continue among the people of the area without the need for military or ideological courses, with promises to improve the financial return of the volunteers. The militias cancelled many of the military courses that were held in Al-Sayyal and the southern desert, amid the refusal of local leaders to attend any meetings for fear of being targeted.
On October 14, SOHR sources have reported that many military headquarters in Deir Ezzor city, including the security square in Al-Qusour neighborhood, the Iranian Cultural Centre and recruitment centres affiliated with the Lebanese “Hezbollah,” have resorted to turning off lights during the evening hours in recent days. This measure comes as part of concerns about these sites being monitored and targeted by warplanes and drones, whether Israeli or belonging to International Coalition Forces.
Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that these locations host Syrian combatants under the supervision of third-tier leaders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Meanwhile, security and precautionary measures were heavy, amid the ongoing Israeli escalation on Syrian territory and growing tension between Iranian-backed militias and International Coalition Forces.