Shiite mercenaries taking root and growing in Deir ez-Zur

Aya Ezz

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights warned recently against an upsurge in the activities of Iran-backed militias in the eastern Syrian city of Deir ez-Zur.

The observatory called for taking action against these militias, especially given the fearful nature of their promotion of the Shia ideology in the city.

It called the city the “Euphrates Protectorate”, against the background of the presence of Iran-backed militias all through it.

Large scale

Militias affiliated to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corpse have started taking root and growing west of the Euphrates and in some parts of Deir ez-Zur since 2017, the Russian newspaper Svobodnaya Pressa said.

Since then, these militias succeeded in infiltrating Deir ez-Zur and promoting the Shia ideology among its young population, especially in al-Bukamal area.

The newspaper noted that Iran succeeded in currying favors with the residents of the city by offering them humanitarian aid and carrying out a series of social activities in it.

All this helped the Iranian militias gain presence in the city, the newspaper said.

In the past two years, Iran founded a major cultural center in Deir ez-Zur and used the center in establishing strong contacts with the residents of the city as well as its officials.

Syrian activist Rayan Maarouf said Iran almost occupies the city through its own militias and the cultural center it founded in it.

Iran pays youth in the city a lot of money in return for joining its own militias, Maarouf told The Reference.