Iran Recruits Syrian Defectors for Cross-Border Force in Iraq
In a detailed report by Hudhaifa Ebrahim for The Media Line, Iran is taking steps to rebuild its military and political influence in Syria by training former regime loyalists in Iraqi desert camps. According to eyewitness accounts and intelligence sources, these camps—located in Iraq’s Anbar province near the Syrian border—are being operated with the assistance of Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers and Shiite militias such as Iraqi Hezbollah. The camps house thousands of former Syrian regime fighters who fled following the collapse of President Bashar Assad’s government.
The report reveals that these fighters are receiving structured training in areas like Al-Qa’im and Jurf Al Sakhar, both known hubs for Iranian-backed operations. Rami Makhlouf, cousin of Assad and a controversial businessman, has publicly claimed to be organizing “elite forces” in coordination with Suhayl al-Hasan, a Syrian officer with ties to Russia. Makhlouf alleges these forces are for protecting coastal Syrians, not retaliation—but critics view this effort as an Iranian-backed bid to shape the future Syrian military order.
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Analysts quoted in the article warn that Iran is using tribal and sectarian dynamics, particularly among the Alawite minority, to maintain a foothold in Syria. Hezbollah’s need for support after heavy losses in the war with Israel also plays a role in this strategy.
Omar al-Karbouli, a former Iraqi officer, described the military buildup near the Syrian border as “abnormal” and warned that Tehran’s growing footprint, with tacit Iraqi government awareness, may destabilize the region further.
To fully understand Iran’s covert operations and their potential consequences for regional dynamics, read Hudhaifa Ebrahim’s full article at The Media Line.
