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Russia Expands Presence in Eastern Syria, Iran Repositions Closer to Israel's Border

(IranWire) Ahmad Salloum - A Syrian rebel leader, Khaled Al-Hammad, told IranWire that Russia has recently begun to intensify its presence in Deir Al-Zour in eastern Syria and recently seized an oil field in the area after expelling Syrian regime forces. Syria-based IranWire correspondent Umar Al-Ahmad confirmed that on July 10, a Russian military convoy with more than 60 vehicles arrived at the Al-Talaia camp in the city of Deir Al-Zour. The incoming forces stationed themselves east and west of the Euphrates. This followed convoys on July 4 and July 7. The arrival of these convoys coincided with disagreements between Iranian militias, on the one hand, and Syrian regime forces and Russian militias, on the other. Russia is taking measures to reduce Iran's influence in Syria, seeing Iran's presence as a hindrance to its own political plan for Syria. Yet the Middle East Institute argues that Iran is repositioning its forces in Syria. Over the last few months, Iran has shifted its focus from eastern Syria to the southwest - an area of the country closest to Israel.
2020-07-23 00:00:00
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