Iran-backed militia recruits militants to attack SDF in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – An Iranian-backed militia is recruiting militants from various areas to use them in attacking the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and areas east of the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria.
The command of Brigade 47 militia, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), had planned to start a new recruiting campaign on April 13 in the countryside of Homs and Hama, central Syria, but was postponed due to the military alert state in Deir ez-Zor following the Iran’s attack on Israel.
Early on April 14, Iran launched more than 100 drones and missiles toward Israel, which its air defense systems and U.S. and UK forces shot down over Syria, Iraq, and Jordan and deterred almost all of the attacks before crossing into Israeli territory.
Iran’s attack, which it claimed was an act of self-defense, came in response to an attack on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on April 1, which killed five officers and two generals of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon.
A security source told North Press that 75 new militants were supposed to start military drills as part of the recruiting campaign for monthly salaries ranging between 700,000 and 850,000 Syrian pounds (SYP, which equals about $50).
The new militants are planned to join the so-called “Tribal forces” to fight against the SDF and carry out attacks in areas east of the Euphrates River.
A local leader of the Iranian-backed Baqir Brigade, Muntasr al-Hussein, supervises the campaign and is known for having close connections with Iranian leaders.
Areas in Deir ez-Zor Governorate located to the east of the Euphrates River are held by the SDF, meanwhile those to the west are under the control of the Syrian government forces and the Iranian-backed militias.