Iran contributes to enhancing sectarianism, Shiism in Syria: Syrian politician
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The Iranian role has been negative since the very beginning of the events in Syria, and it contributes to the enhancement of sectarianism, an official of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) said on Tuesday.
Since the eruption of the events in Syria in 2011, Iran has officially announced its support to the Syrian government and sent military consultants to support government forces in their war against factions of the Syrian opposition.
“The Iranian interference in the region led to the turning of the areas into militias and those militias played a negative role,” member of SDC Presidential Council, Khalil Abdi, said.
Iran supported and formed military factions, which are working to fulfill Iran’s ambition in Syria, the most prominent of these factions are National Defense Forces (NDF), Liwa Fatemiyoun, and Liwa Zainebiyoun.
Iran continues the process of recruiting Syrian militants within the ranks of factions affiliated with it through attracting them by offers, and extorting the deteriorating economic conditions that Syria is witnessing.
“The Iranian regime did not intervene in the area for the sake of democracy, stability, or peace in the area or to end war in Syria, but to fulfill its interests,” Abdi told North Press.
“The pro-Iranian militias played a negative role. They try to spread Shiism in the region and they try to enhance Shiism and expand their areas of control in Syria,” SDC official added.
Iran seeks to recruit adults and minors within its factions and spread Shiism through different ways aiming at increasing its influence in eastern Syria’s areas, according to residents in Deir ez-Zor.
There are about 30 recruiting centers deploying in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, west of the Euphrates River, most of them were houses belonging to residents that were seized by pro-Iranian factions under the pretext that their owners are residing in areas held by either Syrian Democratic Forces or opposition factions.
According to statistics of 2020, the number of militants and trainees within centers in al-Bukamal city reached 3,150, including members and graduates operating within Liwa Zainebiyoun, which is affiliated with Islamic Revolutionary Guard, according to a military source in the faction.
Meanwhile, those in al-Mayadin city are about 8,000, “However the number is increasing and the centers are witnessing great turnout,” according to a military source of Hashemiyoun faction.
Additionally, Iran is seeking the permanence and continuity of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s power against the interests of the Syrian people, who is demanding reform and the change of power, according to Abdi.
“Despite the negative policies followed by Iran and Turkey in Syria, Syrians respect Iranian people as well as the Turkish one,” the official noted.