Iran-Backed Soldiers Killed in Syria

Two members from the Iran-backed 4th Division were killed in separate incidents in southern Syria on December 12, IranWire has learned.

At the time of publishing, there had been no confirmation of who carried out the attacks.

Unidentified assailants opened fire on Ghasem Mohammad Al-Masri in the town of Al-Ghariya Al-Sharqiyah near Daraa, southern Syria, killing him immediately, and wounding another civilian, who was transferred to the Syrian regime's Izra Hospital.

In a separate incident, assailants shot Muhammad Khalil Salamah Al-Yasin in front of his house in the city of Jasim north of Daraa, killing him instantly. He was also known to have been affiliated with the 4th Division following the signing of the 2018 settlement agreement, though he was previously a member of the Ababil Houran faction, the largest military opposition faction in Jasim. His killers have also not been identified.

When IranWire asked citizen journalist Akram Al-Mafalani, who is based in southern Syria, about the Ghasem Mohammad Al-Masri assassination, he indicated he had been targeted because of his affiliation with the 4th Division, as well as for his role in attacks in the Daraa Al-Balad region and the town of Al-Karak east of Daraa in mid-November.

A clash also broke out In the city of Al-Sanamayn north of Daraa when a security patrol force tried to arrest an individual whom the authorities had identified for arrest. The situation quickly escalated and rocket-propelled grenades were fired, though no one was injured.

Air Force Intelligence units have established checkpoints so the Syrian regime can secure several positions in the Al-Lajat area, including the towns of Sour, Al-Misika, and Al-Buqah. Air Force Intelligence agents have also arrested a number of civilians as part of the operation.