Fears of Iranian expansion to increase: Tribal elders warn of Iranian sphere of influence

Raqqa – Kinan Ismael

The unrest in the region of Raqqa has reached a new peak as influential tribal elders warn of Iran’s increasing expansionist ambitions in Northern Syria. Concerns have steadily increased amongst the population and the tribal elders, particularly after the events in Deir Er-Zoor some months ago.

It is repetitively claimed that Iran is not solely interested in fueling hatred and hostilities but also actively supports and finances local armed militias.

In fact, these militias have close ties to the government of Damascus and Iran-affiliated groups. In fact, the declared goal of this intervention was stated to be the undermining of the region’s stability and the propelling of discord between the various clans.

These developments occur at the backdrop of a potential escalation of the American-Iranian conflict while simultaneously, the war in Gaza unfolded, following the events of October 07, 2023.

The increase in attacks between the US and Iran in Eastern Syria is closely connected to the war in Gaza. In this matter, the geographic position of North and Eastern Syria plays a crucial role due to the existence of military bases of the International Coalition, spearheaded by the USA. These troops are deployed in Deir-Er-Zoor, Al-Hassaka, Qamishli and the countryside. At the same time, a militia is operating at the Western part of the Euphrates in Deir-Er-Zoor, affiliated with the military forces of the government of Damascus and Iran.

Escalating menaces in Syria

Amid the continuously reigniting Syrian conflict, the enunciated threats of Iran and the activities of its militias received more attention. Youssef Al-Asaad, an influential member of the Walda tribe in Raqqa, talks about the continuous Iranian danger and its immediate consequences for the region.

“The Iranian threat has been present in Syria for years”, warned Al-Asaad. Currently, these menaces focus on Deir Er-Zor where they create a climate of instability for their own benefits”. Al-Asaad further states: “Tomorrow, Raqqa will be their target”.

In an exclusive statement to the renown Media Plattform “Target”, Al-Asaad divulges that Iranian militias actively recruit people in the region in order to create sleeping cells. Their declared goal is the destabilization of North and East Syria. In addition, these militias forge plans to undermine stability in Raqqa and to enter the Southern desert of Raqqa as well as the Western countryside of the city.

Local sources and eyewitnesses from “Target” recount an increasing presence of Iranian militias such as the Zahnabiyoun, the Fatemiyoun and the Al-Nujaba movement in the Southwestern countryside of Raqqa and the Rusafa desert. It is particularly concerning that these militias try to infiltrate the countryside of Raqqa by avoiding the main streets and deliberately exploiting Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine War.

The wide territory of the Syrian desert, connecting Deir-Er-Zor, Raqqa, Aleppo, Hama, Homs as well as the countryside of Damascus and As-Suwayda, remain the focus of these developments. This desert region encompasses nearby 55% of the whole Syrian territory and is considered to constitute an integral part of the Damascus desert, spanning across Syria, Lebanon and Jordan and being connected to the Arabian desert.

In this interview, Al-Asaad warns of the various perils, emanating from Iran and its allied militias, in particular in the context of increasing drug trafficking and abuse amongst the Syrian population and the adjacent countries.

It is reported that these militias now possess production factories for narcotics in the cities of Al-Mayadeen and Al-Bukamal, located in the Eastern part of Deir-er-Zor. Al-Asaad further points out the ambitions of Iran to infiltrate the closely located areas of Deir-er-Zor and Raqqa and also claims that allied militias use sleeping cells in order to destabilize the region.

On November 28, 2023, Mazloum Abdi, the General Officer of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) informed the US Website Al-Monitor on an attack of an Iranian drone on a weaponry storage of his units, leading to several fighters to become seriously injured.

While Al-Asaad emphasizes that the inhabitants of the region will pay the price of the Iranian-US escalation, he retraces the reason of the unfolding escalation to the fact that civilians are always those who sacrifice and lose the most in times of war and conflict.

At the same time, he calls upon the International Coalition and the US forces to contain the deployment of Iranian militias and restrict their expansion in the region.

In reference to the history of Iraq after 2003, he warned of the potential repercussions by further highlighting the activities of pro-Iranian militias which displaced Iraqis and destroyed their houses.

At the end of last month, the US Ministry of Defense announced that the forces of the International Coalition, spearheaded by Washington, responsible for the combat of terrorism in Syria and Iraq, were exposed to at least 16 attacks in Syria and Iraq, since the beginning of the month October. Thereby, the Iranian-backed militias were accused of having plotted and carried out these attacks.

In fact, Iran increasingly operates in Syria, especially in the Eastern region at the Iraqi-Syrian border and the Syrian desert. Iran thereby creates armed militias that are hostile towards the West and the US military forces and further engage in the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Iraq. This strategy exploits the religiously rooted tensions and disseminates Shiite teachings in the region while simultaneously benefiting from the economic hardships of the region’s inhabitants.

Local sources from Deir-Er-Zor confirm that Iranian agents are recruiting children from the region and actively intends to disseminate Shiite teachings.

The military base of the international coalition in the oil field of Al-Omar, located Eastern from Deir-Er-Zor is regularly attacked by rockets, usually being fired from areas, controlled by Iranian militias in the Western part of the Euphrates.

At the same time, deliberately targeting attacks on Iranian military headquarters and weaponry storages are carried out with the usage of drones and warplanes, particularly in Al-Bukamal and Al-Mayadeen, situated Eastern of Deir-er-Zor.

Intentions to fuel hatred and discord

Muhammad Turki Al-Suwan, a prominent leader of the Sabkha tribe in Raqqa, expressed his concerns regarding an increasing sphere of influence of Iranian militias and made them responsible for the current unrest.

Al-Suwan further explained that the origins of the tribal conflicts in the Western parts of the Euphrates can be retraced to weak personalities from the tribes that work together with the Iranian military forces.

It seems that their commonly pursued goal is the destabilization of the region and the spread of terror and discord.

Since the Iranian intervention in the Eastern region of Syria in 2017, the nation has tried to offer its support to Arabic tribes in Deir-er-Zor, purportedly in the combat against the terrorist organization ISIS.

This attempt entails different methods, including the recruitment of tribal members for the sake of achieving a profound infiltration into the region.

Local sources further divulged that Iran deliberately exploits the origins of the tribes for playing them off against each other. Especially the Hashemite tribes are currently the focus, including the Al-Beggara, Al-Mushahida and Al-Murasima whose origins can be retraces to the Ahl Al-Bayt.

Al-Suwan further told the Media Platform “Target” that the region still suffers from the presence of IS sleeping cells in spite of the liberation of the region from ISIS seven years ago.

Iran further actively incited and mobilized tribal members in order to fight the Syrian Democratic Forces.

In reaction to the escalating situation, the international Coalition troops, which pertinently contributed to the military defeat of ISIS, demand unanimously decided measures, seeking to confront the current unrest in Raqqa and Deir-er-Zor, caused by Iran.

The region’s inhabitants now fear that the conflict could extent towards North- and East Syria; years after fierce battles against ISIS which caused the detrimental destruction of the region’s infrastructure. Officials of the Raqqa Civilian Council also announced that 90 percent of the city’s infrastructure has been damaged or completely destroyed.