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Iranian Militias Barred from Entering 'Seven Villages' Area in Syria's Deir Ezzor

Russian officers with the people of Deir Ezzor for the distribution of aid (X)
Russian officers with the people of Deir Ezzor for the distribution of aid (X)
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Iranian Militias Barred from Entering 'Seven Villages' Area in Syria's Deir Ezzor

Russian officers with the people of Deir Ezzor for the distribution of aid (X)
Russian officers with the people of Deir Ezzor for the distribution of aid (X)

Russian forces in Syria are working to prevent the situation from escalating, which could draw Syria into the ongoing conflict in Palestine and Lebanon. According to Russian National Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, who recently toured the region, “the situation in the Middle East remains highly complex and tense, and it is essential to continue reintegrating Syria into the regional environment.”
As part of these efforts, Russian forces have set up a military checkpoint on the bridge connecting the so-called “seven villages” with areas west of the Euphrates, allowing the access of Syrian government and Russian forces, while barring Iranian militias and other armed groups from entering.
In 2022, Iran built this bridge to link areas it controls west of the Euphrates with the seven villages its allied militias control east of the river. The bridge, connecting Al-Husayniyah (east of the Euphrates) and Al-Huwayqa (west of the Euphrates), facilitates the transfer of weapons and military supplies across both sides of the river for these militias.
According to sources from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), this Russian measure follows repeated clashes between the US-led International Coalition and Iranian-backed militias affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the area.
The seven villages in the Deir Ezzor countryside—Al-Salihiyah, Hatlah, Khasham, Marat, Tabiyah, Mazlum, and Al-Husayniyah—are under Syrian government control and include local elements connected to Iranian militias. The bridge serves as a strategic link between the city and these villages. Russia’s move aims to assert military control over these villages by restricting entry and exit solely to Russian and government forces, in an effort to de-escalate military tensions in the area.
On Wednesday, two members of local Iranian-aligned militias died from injuries sustained a few days earlier in a US strike near Deir Ezzor Military Airport on Oct. 31, which also injured several others.
In recent days, US forces have conducted daily heavy artillery shelling in the seven villages and areas west of the Euphrates, citing the presence of Iran-backed fighters who are targeting nearby US bases.
Russia had previously requested that the IRGC withdraw Iran-affiliated militias from locations near Deir Ezzor Military Airport and other sites in the city. This request was made during a meeting on Oct. 18 between a Russian military representative in Syria and an IRGC representative in Deir Ezzor, held at a government security facility, according to local media sources.
Russian media indicate that Shoigu’s recent actions have focused on preventing the situation from escalating into a major confrontation, which could significantly harm Russian interests in the region.
Deir Ezzor province and its surroundings have been experiencing increased security instability, which has worsened as Iran and its militias shift their focus toward the conflict in Lebanon and the Israeli attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian forces.

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Lebanon, UNIFIL Reaffirm Commitment to Continuing Peacekeeping Patrols

A UNIFIL vehicle patrols along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel (UNIFIL)
A UNIFIL vehicle patrols along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel (UNIFIL)
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Lebanon, UNIFIL Reaffirm Commitment to Continuing Peacekeeping Patrols

A UNIFIL vehicle patrols along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel (UNIFIL)
A UNIFIL vehicle patrols along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel (UNIFIL)

Lebanon’s government and the United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) have reaffirmed that patrols in southern Lebanon would continue uninterrupted, after two young men briefly blocked a UNIFIL convoy in the first such incident since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in November.

Two local youths riding a motorcycle intercepted a UNIFIL armored patrol vehicle on Friday, forcing it to withdraw. A video circulated online showed one of the men saying, “They are not allowed to enter without the Lebanese army.”

The incident occurred in Tayr Debba, some 20 km north of the Israeli border but still geographically south of the Litani River.

Candice Ardell, deputy director of the UNIFIL Media Office, said peacekeepers were conducting a patrol in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 when their convoy was twice obstructed by civilians.

Peacekeepers took an alternate route and were pursued for a short time, but were able to continue their planned patrol, Ardell said. She added that UNIFIL had reported the incident to the Lebanese army.

Ardell reminded all parties that UNIFIL operates in close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and that any interference in the peacekeepers' duties violates Lebanon's commitments under Resolution 1701.

Government moves to contain incident

Lebanon’s government moved quickly on Saturday to contact the UNIFIL leadership and members of the five-party mechanism overseeing the ceasefire to contain the fallout from the incident.

A senior government source told Asharq Al-Awsat that “immediate high-level contacts were made to confirm that UNIFIL patrols will continue and that the mission will proceed with its mandate.”

Following the renewal of its mandate last August, UNIFIL pledged to work closely with the LAF, carrying out patrols across its area of operations south of the Litani, where about 20% of patrols are conducted jointly with the Lebanese army.

Last week, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun approved the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate for another year.

UNIFIL forces remain visible on the ground around the clock under the authority granted by Resolution 1701, which is the framework for maintaining stability in southern Lebanon along the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon.

The ceasefire monitoring mechanism - known as the “Quintet” - includes UNIFIL, the Lebanese army, the Israeli army, and representatives from the United States and France, with Washington currently leading the group.

Public anger simmers

The obstruction has raised questions about whether the incident was a deliberate message to UNIFIL, possibly linked to Hezbollah.

Before the outbreak of hostilities on October 8, 2023, Hezbollah was often accused of orchestrating similar incidents through civilians to restrict UNIFIL’s movements.

However, retired Brig. Gen. Mounir Shehadeh, a former government coordinator with UNIFIL, said the latest incident appeared to be an isolated act.

“This was an individual action by a citizen and had nothing to do with Hezbollah,” Shehadeh told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that the group had shown full cooperation with the army since the ceasefire began.

Still, Shehadeh acknowledged growing frustration among southern residents over what they see as UNIFIL’s failure to deter Israeli violations.

“People feel that while Lebanon is expected to fulfill all its obligations, Israel is not held accountable,” he said, pointing to daily Israeli raids, home demolitions, and cross-border attacks.

“This resentment fuels public anger at UNIFIL, but the latest obstruction was a personal act, with no link to Hezbollah,” he emphasized.

Political tensions surface

The incident echoes previous protests against UNIFIL’s movements in southern Lebanon, often blamed on Hezbollah, particularly in the lead-up to the Gaza war.

Ali Mourad, an anti-Hezbollah political activist, said such incidents are shaped by a political environment that fosters suspicion of the United Nations and the Lebanese army.

“These actions are not spontaneous,” Mourad told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“They send a political message - one that ultimately harms Lebanon’s own interests.”

Mourad urged southern political leaders to prioritize cooperation with UNIFIL, noting that both Hezbollah and its ally Amal had previously endorsed the ceasefire agreement.

“Obstructing UNIFIL damages Lebanon’s standing and plays into Israel’s hands by suggesting rejection of Resolution 1701,” Mourad said.

He stressed that any disputes with UNIFIL’s activities should be handled exclusively by the Lebanese state.

“It is the state’s responsibility to coordinate with UNIFIL, not individuals acting on their own,” he said.

“We must entrench the culture of turning to state institutions in all matters of dispute.”

UNIFIL said last Tuesday that its peacekeepers continue to patrol the Blue Line and report independently to the Security Council, even under extreme pressure.

During their patrols, they frequently encounter unexploded ordnance and remnants of war that pose dangers to civilians, the Lebanese army, and the peacekeepers themselves, it said.