Iranian-Backed Forces Are Reconstructing Two Airfields For Drones In Syria’s Der Ezzor

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Iranian-backed forces are reconstructing two airfields in the northeastern Syrian governorate of Deir Ezzor to use them for drone operations, the Syrian Observatory for Human Right (SOHR) reported on October 7.

The two airfields are located near al-Mayadin in the southern Deir Ezzor countryside. The town is a stronghold of Syrian and Iraqi forces backed by the Quds Force, an elite unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that is specialized in extraterritorial operations.

According to the London-based monitoring group, a senior commander of Lebanon’s Hezbollah ordered the reconstruction of the tow airfields, which previously supported agricultural aircraft.

“The Iranian militias are working to raise their military capacity in the region in order to enhance their presence and raise their combat readiness inside Syrian territory,” the SOHR’s report reads.

The two airfields will likely be used by Iranian-backed forces to launch and retrieve large reconnaissance and combat drones. The deployment of such drones in Deir Ezzor has been already reported. In July, the SOHR said that Iranian-backed forces had tested an Ababil-3 combat drone over Deir Ezzor desert. The drone was allegedly launched from an airfield near al-Mayadin.

Iranian-backed forces are present in the southern Deir Ezzor countryside to counter ISIS cells, deter U.S. forces in the northeastern region and secure the border line with Iraq. Drones could help them carry out these tasks.

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