Thread by @evacool_

Iranian militias in #Syria
By the beginning of 2012, with the increasing peaceful demonstrations the #IRGC began to feel the danger to the regime of its ally Assad and the major schisms within the #Assad army. Opposition sources estimate the number of dissidents at 150,000.1/12

Because of Assad's field losses, Tehran gave orders to #Hezbollah terrorist militia to conduct military intervention to save #Assad. It was the first direct military presence of the militia in southern #Damascus and the vicinity of Damascus International Airport.2/12
#Iran #USA

Over time, the #IRGC has established a number of trained, financially and militarily supported militias from #Tehran that are spread over a number of Syrian provinces from #Aleppo to #Daraa.3/12
#Iran #Syria #USA #Israel #IDF #Russia

The most important of these militias is the Special Forces militia, which was founded in 2013 by a leader of the Lebanese #Hezbollah militia, Ali Shabib Mahmoud, one of the leaders of the most experienced Radwan group.

Ali Mahmoud began to gather the fighters at the beginning of the Sayeda Zeynab area, south of #Damascus, exclusively from the Shiite community, and then expanded the spread of this militia to include several areas in the south of the Syrian capital, #Daraa, #Homs and Bukamal.5/12

The numbers of the militia are estimated at 4,000 fighters who participated in various battles in the regions of #Qalamoun, #Daraa and #Damascus and are responsible for a number of massacres against civilians of the area.6/12
#Syria #Iran #USA #Israel #Russia

The local defense forces were established by Iran in #Syria in mid-2012 in the city of #Aleppo and its environs. It includes fighters from the Shiite community of Nabel, Al-Zahra and Aleppo. The presence of these militias remained in the city of Aleppo and its environs.7/12

The Al-Baqir Brigade was established by the #IRGC in the south of #Aleppo in mid-2013 by tribesmen who converted to the Shiite sect. The brigade was established in the southern region of #Khanaser, with 1,500 fighters.

The Asafirah Regiment is a militia established by the #IRGC south of the city of #Aleppo. It is responsible for protecting the Aleppo-Hama road and protecting the two Iranian bases at the Asafirah and Mount Ezzan.9/12
#Syria #Iran #USA #Israel #Russia

The militia of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas was initially founded by Iraqi and Lebanese mercenaries at the beginning of 2013 with the support of the #IRGC. Thousands of Syrian Shia and Sunni fighters joined in. They spread south of #Damascus and north of #Daraa.10/12
#Syria #USA #Israel

These militias are part of a group of other militias directly affiliated with the #IRGC as well as thousands of Iraqi, Lebanese and #Afghan fighters fighting in the ranks of the #Assad regime.11/12
#Syria #USA #Israel #Iran #Russia #Turkey #EU #IDF

In this way it can be emphasized that the talk about the possibility of removing Iran from Syria and retaining #Assad is far from the reality. Iran is now the backbone of this system and cannot be separated.12/12
#Syria #USA #Israel #Iran #Russia #Turkey #EU #IDF