BICOM

Iranian-backed militias have returned to southern Syria, having previously withdrawn, and changed into Syrian army uniforms.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Hezbollah fighters and other Iranian-backed militias withdrew from the Daraa and Quneitra provinces in Syria’s southwest near Israel only to return dressed in Syrian military uniforms and under the regime flag. One rebel commander said they are disguising themselves as the Syrian army to avoid being targeted by Israeli aircraft. One commander told the WSJ that the convoys were also returning equipped with rockets and missiles.

An Israeli official declined to address the allegations of uniform switching, but told the WSJ: “You can be sure that Israel is very much aware of basically everything happening in our backyard.”

Following military success in Damascus and Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian regime is planning an assault in southern Syria to recapture areas held by rebels, some of whom are close to the Israeli border. In anticipation of the offensive, Israel and Russia were reportedly close to reaching an understanding whereby Iranian forces would not be a part of any Syrian military attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet yesterday that his visit to Europe last week to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May was a success. “The leaders agreed with the main goal that I set, and this is formulating a broad international agreement that Iran needs to leave Syria, from all of Syria,” he said.

Netanyahu, when addressing cabinet said, “Even though Iran’s departure from Syria is a long process, I believe that if you set a goal, if you know where you are going, you have a greater chance of getting there. In any case, I made it clear that we will take strong action against attempts to establish a presence against us, and also against attacks on us. I think that this is understood and accepted by these leaders.”

The Mail on Sunday reported yesterday that Syrian President Bashar Assad accused Western nations of lying about about chemical attacks in Syria and have supported terrorist groups, while Russia has supported his government against the foreign “invasion”. He dismissed reports that Israel has conducted recent airstrikes in Syria with tacit Russian cooperation.