By Omar Abdurrahman
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Areas in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, are experiencing a mass displacement of residents due to repressive policies of the Iranian-backed militias that have been controlling the region since driving out the Islamic State (ISIS) from it.
Chaos
Several residents from the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, using pseudonyms for security reasons, describe the conditions they live in under the rule of the Iranian-backed militias.
Ahmad, a resident in the town of al-Mayadin in the southeast of Deir ez-Zor, recounts that the town used to be the largest in the eastern countryside, drawing in visitors for shopping. By 2016, the population of al-Mayadin had reached 140,000.
Now the city is experiencing security disturbances instigated by Iranian-backed militias, especially Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which aims to coerce locals into leaving the town to seize their houses to accommodate its militants families.
According to Ahmad, IRGC leaders and its affiliated militias have established control over all aspects of life in al-Mayadin, with essential services only being provided to neighborhoods where IRGC militants reside.
Additionally, the IRGC has restricted the distribution of humanitarian assistance solely to its militants and their families, leaving the rest of the people suffering from a lack of basic services, he adds.
Mass displacement
Under the continuous pressure, most of the residents in al-Mayadin either moved to areas in the east of the Euphrates River, which are held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), or immigrated outside Syria to European or Asian countries, Ahmad says.
Meanwhile, Aziz, a resident in the town of al-Asharah, confirms to North Press that those who do not join the Iranian-backed militias are deprived of basic service and living rights.
He points out “the militias’ provocations have become increasingly public. Even when people apply for jobs, Iranian brokers charge them exorbitant amounts of money for providing security clearances.”
Aziz further added that “gangs under the protection of the Iranian leaders are stealing people’s property. These practices have made life unbearable, forcing hundreds of families to leave.”
Activist from Deir ez-Zor have observed the immigration of hundreds of families from areas west of the Euphrates River to other parts of Syria.
They pointed out that the towns of al-Asharah, al-Quriyah, al-Mayadin, al-Dwair, al-Abbas, and al-Majawda are almost 70 percent vacant of their original residents.
Now, the towns are limited to mostly militants of Iranian-backed militants, the National Defense Forces (NDF), affiliated with the Syrian government forces, and families of militants with ties to Iran reside there.
Controlling resources
Abdulhalim, a resident of the town of al-Abbas, says that the town is almost empty of sign of life due to the immigration of its residents outside of Deir ez-Zor. This is because of the pressures and actions of the Iranian-backed militias that have taken over all aspects of life in the town.
Abdulhalim adds that the Iranian-backed militias have come to control even agricultural resources. They have prohibited the supply of agricultural products except to warehouses owned by individuals affiliated with and supported by Iran.
He further explains that the Iranian-backed militias have taken control of real estate offices in areas they control in Deir ez-Zor and have forced the majority of the residents to sell their properties to Iranians through extortion and intimidation.