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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iraqi militants in Syrian prisons await uncertain future |
| 2025-10-27 |
| DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Amid Syria’s shifting political and security landscape, a highly complex and sensitive issue has resurfaced — the fate of Iraqi militants detained in Syrian prisons. Once welcomed as allies fighting alongside Iranian-backed militias during the Syrian war, many of these men now find themselves behind bars, caught between two governments and tangled regional interests. FROM BATTLEFIELDS TO UNKNOWN CELLS Field information indicates that most of these militants entered Syria with direct support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as part of Tehran’s broader strategy to bolster the Assad regime’s military position. However, as power dynamics shifted and new forces took control, these Iraqi fighters — once allies of Damascus — became its prisoners. “When the battles in Deir ez-Zor began, we fought side by side with groups of Iraqi fighters supported by Iran, many of whom belonged to Iraqi Hezbollah factions,” Ali al-Ali (a pseudonym), a former Syrian fighter in the ranks of Iranian-backed militias in Deir ez-Zor, told North Press. “At first, the relationship was cooperative, but as events unfolded, their true ambitions and objectives in Syria started to appear,” he said. “The relationship was complicated. They came from Iraq to support us, but their loyalties were conflicted. We fought for Syria, while many of them followed a different agenda driven by Iran. After the regime fell, most could not return to Iraq and ended up in prison. Some were released after settlements, but the majority are still enduring harsh conditions behind bars.” VOICES FROM BEHIND BARS Haider al-Othman, an Iraqi militant from al-Qa’im, recently released from a Syrian prison, recounted his experience saying, “I was a member of Iraqi Hezbollah and was transferred to Syria after the area was liberated from ISIS. When the regime collapsed, we could not escape. The Iraqi border was closed, and I was arrested without trial or clear charges. The prison conditions were brutal.” “Our government knows about us. We came to Syria under its orders. We heard about negotiations between the two countries to release detainees, but I was surprised when I was freed after they confirmed I was not involved in war crimes. I now live in Abu Kamal with my family, but I cannot return to Iraq for fear of being pursued by Iraqi Hezbollah,” he added. More at the link |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #1 |
| Posted by: Frank G 2025-10-27 03:07 |