2000 members of Iranian, Afghan militia head to Suwayda’s Desert
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Sheikh Suleiman Abdulbaqi, leader of the Ahrar Jabal al-Arab movement, told North Press, on Saturday, which about 2,000 Iranian and Afghan members have been monitored entering the Suwayda Desert, east of the governorate, south Syria, during the past two days.
“They were detected entering from Khalkhala Airport in northern Suwayda, which is under Iranian control. The number of these militias who entered into the Desert with medium-sized vehicles and weapons is estimated to be around 2,000 members,” Abdulbaqi told North Press.
The leader indicated that ‘the presence of these militias is for the conflict over the drug smuggling route towards Jordan, after receiving information about the arrival of fighting factions from the al-Tanf base to reduce drug smuggling operations.
The Ahrar Jabal al-Arab movement is one of the military factions in the province of Suwayda, founded under the leadership of Sheikh Suleiman Abdulbaqi following the protests that took place in February 2022.
He said that the main goal of the presence of these Iranian militias is to compact the factions present at the al-Tanf base.
Abdulbaqi emphasized that the Suwayda factions have raised their readiness and coordination to confront the Iranian militias in case of any confrontation between them and the people of Suwayda.
Abdulbaqi considered these militias to be similar to ISIS members who entered the Desert of Suwayda in the summer of 2018.
Al-Tanf has been under US control since 2016, when Islamic State (ISIS) militants were expelled from the area. Thousands of families fleeing government violence have been trapped at the Rukban refugee camp since Jordan closed its borders there. The US has armed and funded men from Rukban, which formed the opposition Syrian Free Army (formerly Commandos of the Revolutionaries). The US continues to have a military presence in al-Tanf.