Iraqi Fighters Join Syrian Battle as Rebels Exploit Regional Power Distractions
A massive deployment of Iran-backed Iraqi fighters crossed into Syria on Monday to aid President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in countering a rebel offensive that seized large parts of Syria’s most populous city, Aleppo, but Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a key regional ally, has no immediate plans to directly enter the escalating conflict, sources told international media.
The fighters’ entrance into the battle comes as Assad’s coalition faces massive challenges in the war-torn country, with Russia focused on its war in Ukraine and Hezbollah’s core leadership decimated from its conflict with Israel that only ended with a cease-fire last week.
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At least 300 fighters, mainly from Iraq’s Badr and Nujabaa groups, entered Syria through unmarked roads, two Iraqi security sources said. A Syrian military source confirmed the reinforcements were sent to “aid comrades on the front lines” and entered the country in small groups to avoid detection.
The head of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, a broadly linked coalition of Shiite militias under the umbrella of the Iraqi military, confirmed Monday that its forces, which include Hezbollah’s Iraqi branch, Kataeb Hezbollah, had not joined the fight.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister pledged that Tehran and allied “resistance groups” would provide full support to Assad. Hezbollah, crucial in previous campaigns for Assad, has yet to re-engage in Syria, with its forces depleted after weeks of conflict with Israel.
Rebels, including Turkey-backed groups and the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, capitalized on Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups being diverted by their fight with Israel, said Hadi al-Bahra, head of Syria’s main opposition group abroad. The war in Gaza had delayed preparations for the offensive, he added.
