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العربية
DeirEzzor24 exclusive report:
In early 2022, after a failed assassination attempt, Haj Mahdi was transferred from Mayadeen city to Damascus where he was charged with supervising the Hurass Saydida Zaynab faction. Haj Kami assumed Haj Mahdi’s previous role in Mayadeen city.
According to exclusive sources for DeirEzzor24, Haj Mahdi was recently nominated for the position of general commander of the IRGC militia in Syria, and he will be appointed within the coming days to replace Jawad Ghafari and Qassem Soleimani in Syria.
Who is Hajj Mahdi?
Haj Mahdi is an Iranian national approximately 40 years old. He is a mysterious figure who only interacts with commanders of the IRGC, and does not mix with local militia members.
He generally keeps to himself and avoids public appearances, preferring to stay in his headquarters. Haj Mahdi moves about in several different cars for fear of being tracked or surveilled.
Al-Hajj Mahdi is the general commander of the IRGC militia in Syria, and one of the top five most important commanders in Deir Ezzor province. He supervises Deir Ezzor, Maadan, Palmyra, Athriya as well as the IRGC commanders in Al-Bukamal. He moves between the militia HQs in Al-Bukamal and Deir Ezzor.
In Deir Ezzor, Haj Mahdi stays in a fortified villa guarded by foreign elements. The villa is located in the state security area near the Iranian hostels and the HQs of the Al-Baqir militia. There are no Arab fighters stationed in the area except at the headquarters of Al-Baqir militia.
Near Haj Mahdi’s headquarters are villas belonging to him and his members who switch shifts, and one entrance to the heavily guarded place. The villa was confiscated from a civilian. He recently moved to the side of the Iranian Nasr Center in the Rusafa neighborhood.
Haj Mahdi’s main duties are to supervise military and religious matters in the area. In terms of military operations, he carries out weekly inspection tours between Al-Mayadeen and Al-Bukamal to visit the military front and the fighters. He goes every Friday to Al-Bukamal and returns on Sunday. Haj Mahdi is rarely absent from Deir Ezzor, only visiting Iran from time to time.
Haj Mahdi also directly commands the foreign militias, including Fatimiyoun, Zainabiyoun and Hezbollah. Most of his operations regarding the foreign forces are secret, such as conducting transfers of weapons and reinforcements, making deals, and all military decisions related to eastern Syria.
Haj Mahdi plays a major role in expanding Iranian influence in eastern Syria. He has been the force behind the strategy of demographic change focused on increasing loyalty to Tehran through proselytizing Shia Islam. Haj Mahdi has consolidated control in the region, adapted his forces to the Russian presence, and carried out various military and religious activities that have increased Iran’s influence in eastern Syria. These activities include forming local militias, managing and controlling the borders, rapprochement with Russian and regime-loyal militias, supporting foreign militias loyal that can serve the IRGC, and involvement in various investments designed to further entrench Iran in the region.
