Sources: Hizbullah, Iran militias doing ‘all the real fighting’ against Syrian rebels

Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Iran’s proxies have taken over most of the fighting against Sunni rebels in Syria.

Western diplomatic sources said Hizbullah and other Iranian proxies were assigned virtually all of the infantry operations against Sunni rebel strongholds.

Hezbollah clashes with members of the Sunni-dominated Free Syrian Army in the town of Hatita, which Iraqi and Lebanese Shiite fighters captured, in the countryside near Damascus.  /Jaber al-Helo/AP
A Hizbullah fighter takes aim at Free Syrian Army foes in the town of Hatita, in the countryside near Damascus on Nov. 22. /Jaber al-Helo/AP

The sources said the Syrian military has been restricted to air and artillery strikes to support the Hizbullah advance, which included the Iranian-financed National Defense Forces.

“The Syrian military has ended virtually all direct combat with the rebels,” a diplomat said. “This job has gone to Hizbullah and Iraqi Shi’ite militias.”

The sources said the rising prominence of Hizbullah reflected the strategy of Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2013. They said Assad agreed with a proposal by his brother, Bashar, to restrict the Syrian military, comprised mostly of Sunnis, to air and artillery strikes. At times, the military has used special operations forces for urban missions.

“Assad knew that direct fighting between the Army and the rebels would
lead to massive desertions,” a Western source said. “Now, he uses the
military for stand-off strikes and lets others do the real fighting.”

On Nov. 13, Hizbullah units captured a key rebel-held suburb south of
Damascus. The suburb was identified as Hujaira, controlled by such Al
Qaida-aligned militias as Islamic State of Iraq and Levant and the Nusra
Front for the Defense of the Levant.

The sources said Hizbullah, directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps, has gained significant urban warfare and conventional military
skills during the 31-month Sunni revolt. They cited Hizbullah operations
around Aleppo, Damascus, Dera and Qusair in 2013.

“Hizbullah now is in charge of infantry operations and works with IRGC
officers in planning and coordination with other militias,” the source said.
“When the battle is over, Hizbullah leaves and returns to bases near the
Lebanese border.”

In November 2013, Hizbullah has played a major role in the Assad
counter-rebel offensive. The sources said thousands of Hizbullah troops,
backed by artillery fire, overran rebel strongholds around Aleppo and
Damascus.

Hizbullah was said to operate at least three bases in Syria. They
included a facility southeast of Damascus, attacked several times by rebel
militias.

“They [Hizbullah] know all the tricks of the rebels, including their use
of tunnels and IEDs,” the source said. “The Syrian Army, even the elite
units, had little understanding of insurgency warfare.”

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