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D24 exclusive:
Reliable sources confirmed to D24 network that today, Sunday, a number of the National Defense Militia elements in Al-Mayadeen city in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside left the the militia without telling its leadership of their decision.
The sources, who preferred not to be named for security reasons, indicated that the elements who left the National Defence have directly joined the Iranian Revolutionary Guard militia in Deir Ezzor province, starting training camps in the city.
The sources added that the elements left the national defense militia because they had not got paid for months, and that they joined the militias supported by Iran to get regular salaries of $150-$200 per month.
The sources noted that the National Defense Militia made an official request to the Revolutionary Guard militia, asking it to hand over the elements who joined it, but the militia rejected the request, and confirmed that the elements have become part of its forces in Deir Ezzor.
With regard to the salaries of the national defence, the sources confirmed that their salaries have been irregular, where they get paid for a month and remain without salaries for two or more months, and that the financial crisis the militia has been through, has greatly affected it, and has noticeably begun to lose its elements.
The Iranian militias offer their new elements salaries, food parcels and protection that prevent the Assad regime from pursuing or arresting them.
It is indicated that since it entered Deir Ezzor province, Iran has been tempting people, exploiting the widespread poverty in the region.