On July 2, 2019, a Syrian opposition website published a report detailing the locations of the Iran-backed Iraqi and Lebanese Shi'ite militias in the Syrian city of Al-Bukamal and nearby rural areas, near the Syria-Iraq border.
The report provided the locations of these militias' military outposts and weapons depots, and a breakdown of the weapons in their possession. It was accompanied by aerial photos.
According to the report, the following groups are active in Al-Bukamal: Hizbullah-Lebanon, the Iraqi Al-Nujaba movement, and Hizbullah Brigades, as well as the Al-Fatemiyoun militia comprising Shi'ites of Afghan origin, and the Zainebiyoun militia, comprising Shi'ites from Pakistan. All these organizations, which are designated terrorist by the U.S., are directed by "Gen. Salman Al-Irani" of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
The report added that these militias have surface-to-air missiles, guided missiles, and shoulder-fired missiles in the city, and that they are using a former hospital as a weapons depot. It also stated that a communications tower had been erected there to facilitate contact with Iraq-based Shi'ite militias that are subordinate to Iran.
The translation of the entire document, including a detailed description of the locations of the militias' outposts and weapons depots, is available to MEMRI JTTM subscribers by clicking here.
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