Pro-Iran militias move away from the SDF at Deir Ezzor. IRGC and Hezbollah leave posts in East Syria to local groups. Objective: to reduce the risk of espionage and attacks by Israel and the United States for supporting Russia in Ukraine

The pro-Iran militias in eastern Syria are reshaping their presence, in particular in Deir Ezzor, moving away from the areas controlled by the SDF. In the last few hours, the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have left their posts on the outskirts of the city to some local allied groups. In the previous days Hezbollah had done the same in Mayadeen, Mahkan and Al-Qarya. There are no official confirmations, but in all likelihood the decision is linked to the need of pro-Tehran forces to improve their defenses, reducing the risk of espionage and being attacked by Israel or the United States. This, especially after the confirmation that the Islamic Republic supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine, providing Moscow with drones and other assets. It is no coincidence that Iranian targets, linked to supplies to Russia, have already been hit several times in Syria in recent weeks.