Israeli Military Official: Iran-Backed Militias Withdrew from Positions in Syria
Israeli media report that a senior Israeli military officer told journalists on Thursday that Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militias in Syria have withdrawn from a region in Syria following a series of airstrikes attributed to Israel in recent weeks.
The Israeli military official also stated that the withdrawal of these forces from the region was likely “a result of Israeli army strikes.”
Recent airstrikes attributed to Israel in recent weeks have targeted the airports of Aleppo and Damascus. These strikes are said to have been carried out to prevent the transfer of weapons from Iran to militia groups such as Hezbollah in Syria.
Another target of airstrikes attributed to Israel was a military facility belonging to the Syrian army in Misyaf in Hama province.
Benny Gantz, Israeli Defense Minister, said on Monday that Iran has “turned Syrian military bases into missile manufacturing factories.”
Benny Gantz, by presenting a map of the facilities of the Syrian army’s defense industry complex in the Misyaf region, stated that Iran is building “industries of terrorism” for its own needs in Syria and has at least ten weapons production bases in Syria.
According to him, Iran has recently begun constructing advanced military industries in Yemen and Lebanon as well.
The Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper also wrote on September 2nd that following the latest airstrikes attributed to Israel, Russia asked Iran to “evacuate” some of the bases where its supporting forces are stationed in Syria.
According to this London-based newspaper, Russian officers told their Iranian counterparts that they must evacuate their forces from a large military site in Hama province, where long-range missiles of the Syrian army are stored.
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat published its report citing statements from “a Syrian government official” whose name it did not mention, and added that following “Israeli attacks” on September 1st on the airports of Aleppo and Damascus, Russia demanded the “withdrawal” of Iranian militias and their allies from positions established in these areas.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which also reported on the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat report, added that Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria, “has for three years prevented Iran from retaliating against Israeli attacks on Syria to prevent escalation of tensions.”
Haaretz wrote that this request from Bashar al-Assad was conveyed to the Iranians during the lifetime of Qasem Soleimani, and after the death of the Quds Force commander, Iran has largely complied with this request.
Source: Radio Farda
