Pro-Iran Militias Attempting To Finalize Land Corridor To The Mediterranean - Significant Threat To Israel

Pro-Iran militias turn on Assad, try to establish land corridor to Mediterranean

Pro-Iran Shiite militias have been observed fighting Syrian army forces several times over the last two weeks, in what has been described as a battle for one of Syria’s key strategic areas, with developments closely followed by a concerned Israel.

It is the first time the two sides have been reported to be fighting, with fatalities and casualties on both sides, after years of cooperation during Iran’s involvement and support for Syrian President Bashar Assad in the country’s civil war.

The reports came from various media outlets in the eastern area of Al-Bukamal and from credible Syrian opposition websites

The fighting is focused around the town of Al-Bukamal, next to the Al-Qa’im border crossing between Syria and Iraq, which is considered a key strategic point in securing trade between Iraq and Syria — and indirectly, between Iran and the Mediterranean Sea.

Al-Bukamal is located on the eastern border of the Deir Ezzor region, on the banks of the Euphrates River.

The fighting between Shiite militia forces and the Syrian military’s forces began more than two weeks ago, and are in an all-out battle over control of the town, its various neighborhoods and the border crossing. Similar exchanges of fire were reported in the nearby town of Al-Mayadin.

The fighting resumed over the weekend, local media reported, with the Iranians bringing reinforcements to the area and making threats to Assad’s loyalists that those identified with the military would be eliminated if they don’t retreat from the town.

It is likely part of the Iranian effort to gain control of the key route without the Syrian army — or any other force — being able to have any influence.

Israel has been following the developments in that area, fearing that Iran could succeed in establishing a land corridor to the Mediterranean that would pose a significant threat to the Jewish state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long been campaigning internationally against Iranian presence and influence in Syria, and has lately been seeking to convince Russia to expel all Iranian forces from Syria.

Over the last few months there has been an Iranian effort to establish a presence around the border crossing, and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, has been seen there several times.