Iranian-backed forces have relocated some of their headquarters in the southern countryside of Syria’s Deir Ezzor, the Syria Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on January 22.
According to the London-based monitoring group, Iranian-backed forces withdrew from the district of al-Tmuo in al-Mayadeen, which was known as their “security zone,” to the newly-built headquarters in the city’s outskirt.
“The pro-Iranian militias unexpectedly removed offices and the headquarters’ weapons and furniture from the said district, yesterday,” the SOHR’s report reads.
Several Iranian-backed groups, including Liwa Zainebiyoun and Liwa Fatemiyoun, are currently deployed in southern Deir Ezzor in order to counter ISIS as well as to secure the strategic highway leading to the border line with Iraq.
Click to see full-size map. Source: (@Suriyakmaps) on Twitter.
In last few months, pro-opposition sources reported dozens of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian-backed forces in southern Deir Ezzor. Most of these claims turned out to be nothing but fake news. However, a few of them were confirmed.
The relocation of Iranian forces’ headquarters is most likely nothing more than a defensive measure. The step will also facilitate the return of locals to al-Mayadeen.
