Russia’s withdrawal from Syrian south increases Iranian influence
DARAA, Syria, (North Press) – The relative reduction in Russian troops south of Syria since May has paved the way for pro-Iranian militias to deploy there.
Syrian Air Forces Intelligence are the most loyal forces to Iran in the area. It is greatly deployed in Daraa and specifically in the eastern countryside extending from Nasib/Jaber border crossing with Jordan and along Syrian-Jordanian border, according to activists in the region.
Activists in Daraa told North Press Russian troops withdrew in mid-May from a military base nearby the village of Muthabin in the northern countryside of Daraa that was set up in 2017 and was one of the most important military bases in the south.
Activists noted, “Russian troops left the town of Izraa in the eastern countryside of Daraa, keeping some ten members behind in headquarters held by these forces.”
They said, “The base in Izraa was a starting point for Russian patrols in the countryside of Daraa.”
Earlier, Russian troops withdrew from the White Rose Hotel in the city center of Daraa and kept just their guards there.
The Russian withdrawal was met with new deployments of military groups “known for their affiliation with Iran”, such as the 4th Armored Division and the Air Forces intelligence, according to activists.
Locals in Daraa fear security crackdown after the withdrawal of the Russian troops that used, in part, to prevent arbitrary arrests of locals by the Syrian government forces.
People accuse military militias affiliated with Iran most notably the Air Forces Intelligence of carrying out murders and arrests of former leaders in the opposition.
On Aug 21, Tayseer al-Nizami, a former leader of the Syrian opposition, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the town of Tasil, west of Daraa.
Al-Nizami obtained the settlement card in 2018 and he did not join the ranks of any military or security formations.
The city center of Daraa, which was never controlled by the opposition factions, is one of the most concentrated areas by the Syrian government forces. It was not spared; however, of assassinations, and anarchy which is marked periodically by killing of the government soldiers.
Locals in Daraa told North Press assassinations were not limited to soldiers of the government, rather former militants of the opposition were killed a bewildering matter about who was directing such assassinations.
They also accused pro-Iranian militias of destabilizing the region notably after the Russian withdrawal. Additionally, mlitants of the Islamic State Organization (ISIS) were said to be behind killings mostly of members of Central Committee and former opposition leaders.
They went further saying that officers of the Syrian government forces sought the continuation of the Syrian war by arresting people and releasing them in return for ransoms.
Since the government forces re-captured Daraa in 2018, the governorate has been living in a state of insecurity, with one or two daily assassinations targeting soldiers and officers of the government forces, not to mention the spread of thefts.
In 2021, Daraa Governorate went through an 80-day-seige. After that, a number of Daraa’s notables and government forces, with mediation of Russian officers, reached a ceasefire agreement on September 5, 2021, including handing over weapons and deploying governmental security posts in the towns of the governorate.