Iranian-backed Syrian militia claims responsibility for attack on US base
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Liwa al-Ghaliboun, a pro-government militia, claimed responsibility for Thursday’s drone attack on a US base near Rmelan, which killed an American contractor and injured at least six others.
The statement, disseminated on Telegram and shared on Twitter, claims the operation was conducted for the “brutal and terrorist crimes committed by the American occupation forces.” “Other operations will follow,” it added. The group furthermore called on the US to leave the region, saying “Americans will not enjoy security in Iraq and outside of it until a complete exit of the American occupation forces from our country.”
Little is known about the group. Aymenn Jawad al-Tamini, a researcher tracking Syrian militias, says Liwa al-Ghaliboun had its start between 2011 and 2013, but has only had an online presence since 2015. It is composed of Syrian Shia or Shia converts from the country’s Alawite community. Many of its members hail from Syria’s coastal area or from the Shia stronghold Sayyidah Zaynab, south of Damascus. In recent years, it has dropped its entry requirements stipulating that members be part of the Shia religion.
According to a former militiaman interviewed by al-Tamini in 2017, the Liwa al-Ghaliboun is strongly tied to Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. According to the source, early members would be paid their salaries at Iran’s embassy in Damascus. Their logo betrays a strong resemblance to Hezbullah’s. Its leader in 2017 is thought to have been trained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, while its founder eventually took up a position with Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Al-Tamini says the group has been active around the Aleppo, Quneitra and Palmyra regions. The Washington Institute says they have fought in the Golan Heights and Deraa. In 2017, their fighters were thought not to exceed 100 persons.
While information on the group is scarce, it is unlikely that the group had the capabilities to conduct a drone attack 140km from the US’ frontline with Iranian-backed groups in Deir ez-Zor without Iranian help. So far, no other party has made Liwa al-Ghalibun responsible for the attack.