Reports of airstrikes in Syria at sensitive time for Iran axis - analysis

According to Syrian reports, alleged Israeli airstrikes targeted sites along the West bank of the Euphrates river valley, from Deir Ezzor to Albukamal on the Iraqi border. This is a sensitive area that Iran has used to move weapons and to develop militia proxies. Iran seeks wider influence here because the Euphrates river valley is a strategic pathway from Syria to Iraq and vice-versa.

Iran wants to dominate this area and in the past it encouraged Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy in Iraq, to set up a headquarters in Albukamal. Then Iran set up a base called ‘Imam Ali’ near Albukamal to stockpile weapons and control the border with Iraq. Those areas were also targeted in numerous airstrikes from 2017-2019, according to Syrian and foreign media reports.

Iran reportedly pushing Hezbollah to hand over arms to tribes in eastern Syria

The reports of airstrikes on the evening of October 1 come after a report in Kuwait’s Al-Jarida that Iran is prodding Hezbollah to hand over arms to tribal groups in the Euphrates river valley. These groups have been involved in creating instability on the other side of the river, the eastern side. The eastern side is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are backed by the US. Over the last two years Iran has encouraged proxies in the area to fire rockets at the SDF and also at areas where US forces are present such as the Omar field and Conoco areas. READ MORE