Iranian, Iraqi forces move huge numbers of troops into Syria

Iranian and Iraqi forces have transported huge numbers of troops and heavy weapons into Syria via a key highway that links Baghdad to the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor according to opposition sources.

Several days ago, opposition sources reported that forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units moved large convoys of men and military equipment into Syria via the Al-Qaim, Abu Kamal crossing point.

No explanation or pretext for why Iran and Iraq may have sent forces into Syria has been provided.

Several weeks ago, Syrian pro-government forces secured a key stretch of highway along the western shore of the Euphrates connecting the city of Deir Ezzor (itself being linked to Damascus) to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad after a series of major battle against the ISIS terrorist group.

As a result of taking control of the strategic highway, Syrian and Iraqi forces (to which Iran is an ally of both) have opened up a much-needed land corridor between their two counties – something which was absent for many years following the rise of ISIS.

The newly established land route serves to greatly increase the transnational mobility of Syrian and Iraqi government-led anti-ISIS forces should such action be required.