Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Iran recruits militias at 6 times the Assad government's wages

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Iran is recruiting members for its militia groups on Syrian soil with monthly salaries that are six times higher than those paid by the Assad regime, a move that has angered Moscow.

According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Islamic Republic is strengthening its presence on Syrian soil and consolidating its influence in areas under the control of the regime, including by recruiting militias loyal to the Bashar al-Assad regime.

According to the report, published on the SOHR website on February 14, Iran is using the Fatemiyoun Division, which is made up of Afghan militias. The human rights group's sources also said that Iran is expanding its influence, especially in the cities of Qamishli and Hasakah.

Pro-Islamic Republic forces are said to have been recruiting when areas under Assad regime control were under siege by Kurdish forces in mid-January.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is formed by opponents of the Bashar al-Assad regime, writes that Iran's move has angered the Russian government because its military forces are present in areas where Iran has increased its activity.

New forces are also transferred to the Turtub Company in southern Qamishli for special training and then go to the region west of the Euphrates.

"Six Equal Rights"

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Iran has increased the monthly salary of these individuals from 50,000 to more than 300,000 Syrian pounds, which is particularly attractive to young men in these critical circumstances.

According to this organization's data, Iran has recently recruited more than 205 Syrian National Defense Forces and about 35 civilians in Qamishli and Hasakah under the supervision of an Iranian named "Hajj Ali."

According to this report, the number of National Defense Forces in these two areas was about 800, of which only 300 are said to remain at present. Many of them have joined the Al-Asayesh group and the Fatemiyoun Division.

According to statistics from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the total number of volunteers who have joined the ranks of Iranian forces and militias loyal to them in southern Syria has reached more than 9,600.

In addition, some of the forces affiliated with the Islamic Republic have moved their weapons to new warehouses, some of which are civilian centers. These centers are located near the cities of Mayadeen and Abu Kamal in eastern Deir Ezzor province, near the Syrian-Iraqi border.

The Israeli government has repeatedly stressed that it will prevent Iran from gaining further influence in Syria at all costs. In recent weeks, positions of Iranian-affiliated forces in Syria have been bombed several times by airstrikes. These attacks are attributed to Israel.

Source: DW