Iran-backed Iraqi militias are reorganizing their ranks of former commanders and members who worked for Iran in Syria, with the aim of establishing arms and drug smuggling networks across the border, according to informed sources.
The recruitment efforts target former members of the Syrian Hezbollah, the 47th Regiment, and the Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade in Deir ez-Zor province. These movements are being led by Iraqi commanders who previously served in Syria, along with Syrian commanders who fled to Iraq after the fall of the former regime.
The plan revolves around enticing recruits with salaries of up to $200 per month, with strict instructions not to surrender their weapons to the Syrian state. An Iraqi known as "Haji Samir" is currently managing the recruitment operations in the area.
The militias are actively purchasing light weapons from civilians and smugglers in Deir ez-Zor, exploiting the abundance of available weapons and the population's need for cash. These operations aim to amass weapons at low prices and then smuggle them into Iraqi territory.
These moves coincide with the establishment of a new smuggling network that relies on personal connections to ensure secrecy. Planned activities include human and drug trafficking, as well as the transfer of weapons across increasingly porous borders.
Zaman Al Wasl
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