Iranian-backed leader survives assassination in Syria’s Deir Ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, a leader in the Iranian-backed militias survived an assassination attempt, after his car was attacked with machineguns in the Abu Kamal desert in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
A military source from the Iranian-backed Liwa Hashemiyoun said that Ali al-Sultan, who is in charge of logistics and armament in the militia, was attacked on the outskirts of the Abu Kamal desert by machineguns.
The leader left his car, hiding among the civilian houses, before the attackers targeted the car again with an RPG shell, which completely destroyed his car.
Al-Sultan, who is Iraqi, has a bad reputation in the region, and he is accused of imposing royalties on civilians, according to the source.
Iranian-backed militia announced on May 31 launching a combing campaign of the eastern and southern countryside of Deir ez-Zor Governorate, to pursue Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cells.
The Iranian-backed militias and Syrian government forces control vast swathes of the Syrian Desert and the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, which witness increasing activity by ISIS sleeper cells and militants.
Since 2017, the Syrian government forces have been combing the desert in response to ISIS increasing practices that have caused the forces massive human and material losses.