Russia Deploys Surprise Military Reinforcements to Syria’s Deir Ezzor

Russian patrol in northwestern Syria | Russia Today
Russian patrol in northwestern Syria | Russia Today
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Russia Deploys Surprise Military Reinforcements to Syria’s Deir Ezzor

Russian patrol in northwestern Syria | Russia Today
Russian patrol in northwestern Syria | Russia Today

The Russian army on Saturday deployed a huge military convoy to Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria amid talks by Syrian opposition members of a potential breakout of clashes with Iran-backed militias near borders with Iraq.

Meanwhile, Turkish forces and artillery deployed in northwestern Syria reached 7,675 vehicles and 11,000 soldiers.

“Deir Ezzor 24” local channel reported on two Russian military convoys entering the city on Friday dawn. The convoys were transferred from the rural areas of Raqqa province.

According to the media report, around 60 military vehicles, among which were large trucks, had entered the Talay camp in Deir Ezzor.

Another news network, Dorar al-Shamiyyah, reported on a third Russian military convoy composed of around 30 military vehicles also entering the scene in less than 24 hours.

It is noteworthy that this is the first time a military convoy of that size enters Deir Ezzor city.

Dorar al-Shamiyyah channel pointed out to escalating conflict between militias loyal to Russia and others loyal to Iran in the region. As a result of this conflict, a security officer was killed in clashes that took place last week.

Clashes have so far killed four security officers and injured many others—they also resulted in the destruction of a military checkpoint and the burning down of militia camps.

This came after news that Iranian militias took control of Boukamal town in Deir Ezzor. Quds Force commander and successor to Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad earlier this year, Esmail Qaani visited the premise set up by Iran-backed militias in the Boukamal town.

According to Deir Ezzor 24, Iran-backed militias has forced Syrian regime troops to remove their roadblocks in Boukamal.

More so, they denied the Russian-backed Liwaa al-Quds forces from setting up camp and checkpoints in the town.

According to the local channel, this comes within the frame of the Russian-Iranian struggle for power in the region.



Tunisia Detains Prominent Lawyer Souab

Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Tunisia Detains Prominent Lawyer Souab

Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisian police on Monday detained Ahmed Souab, a prominent lawyer and fierce critic of the country's president, lawyers told Reuters, raising human rights groups' concerns that a crackdown on dissent will go ahead.

Souab is among the lawyers acting for opposition leaders who received lengthy prison sentences on Saturday on conspiracy charges.

Souab strongly criticized the judge and the trial on Friday, calling it a farce and saying the judiciary had been completely destroyed.

"It seems he was detained because of his critical comments on the trial on Friday," said Samir Dilou, one of Souab's lawyers. Two others lawyers confirmed the detention.

Political parties rejected the rulings, saying they were retaliatory after a trial aimed at cementing President Kais Saied's authoritarian rule.

Rights groups say Saied has had full control over the judiciary since he dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. He dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges in 2022.

"The mass conviction of dissidents...is a disturbing indication of the authorities' willingness to go ahead with its crackdown on peaceful dissent," the human rights group Amnesty International said.

Those convicted included prominent leaders of the Islamist Ennahda party, the main opposition party to Saied.

Ennahda Vice President, Noureddine Bhiri received a 43-year prison sentence, while the court sentenced two senior party officials, Said Ferjani and Sahbi Atig, to ​​13 years each.

The largest sentence was 66 years for businessman Kamel Ltaif, while opposition politician Khyam Turki received a 48-year sentence.