Unidentified Aircraft Attack Iran-Backed Forces in Syria

Several unidentified aircraft bombed the positions of Iran-backed paramilitary forces in the Deir ez-Zor region of Syria on Monday. Local residents told Reuters that following these attacks, these forces entered a state of full alert.

Reuters reported, citing military sources and local residents, that unidentified aircraft bombed the Deir ez-Zor region of Syria near the Iraqi border on Monday, September 27 (Mehr 5), where Iran-backed paramilitary forces are stationed.

According to witnesses, the attacks took place south of the city of Mayadeen along the Euphrates River; a location from which ISIS forces were driven out four years ago and is now the main base of Shiite paramilitaries, mostly from Iraq.

Two residents of the area told Reuters that after hearing several explosions, the Iran-backed paramilitaries who were patrolling the streets entered a state of full alert, and ambulances were also seen rapidly heading toward the desert outskirts of the city.

A resident of the area wrote in a message to Reuters: “The paramilitaries, frightened, were asking pedestrians and vehicles to leave the city center and main streets.”

According to military sources and local residents, paramilitary forces currently control the main Sunni-populated part of the city and have expanded their control over parts of Deir ez-Zor province.

Syrian state media have not published any reports about these attacks. These media previously denied the presence of thousands of Iran-affiliated paramilitary forces in various parts of Syria.

Israel has repeatedly warned about Iran’s expanding presence in Syria and says it has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Syria to prevent the expansion of Islamic Republic-affiliated forces.

Last year, Israeli unmanned aircraft attacks were more frequent in the border city of al-Bukamal southeast of Mayadeen. Al-Bukamal is located on a strategic route through which Iran-backed paramilitaries send their forces from Iraq to Syria.

Iran-backed paramilitaries have also expanded their influence in vast areas along the Iraqi border.

Western security sources say Israel has increased its airstrikes against suspected military forces and paramilitary allies of the Islamic Republic and Lebanese Hezbollah who support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Source: DW