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The mercenary ‘Nawaf Al-Bashir’, a tribal leader of the Bikara tribe, has begun taking action to form a militia made up of people from Arab tribes in Al-Qamishli and its surroundings. This came after he was entrusted by the Assad regime to do so. The recruitment of people is being funded by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in order to bolster the presence of Assad’s forces in the eastern region.
Local sources have mentioned that commanders of the Hashd Shaabi (PMF) will be in charge of training and equipping the recruits in recently established training camps in Assad-held Mount Kawkab and Brigade 156 in Al-Hasakah province.
The sources also indicated that two cargo plans coming from Iraq, which were loaded with weapons and ammunition, landed in the Qamishli airport several days ago in order to use them in the training of the recuits who will be deployed to the frontlines in the eastern region, mainly Deir Ezzor and the Tanaf border crossing near Syria-Iraq border.
The Iranian militias are attempting to gain control over the entire Syria-Iraqi border in the region, particularly the Tanaf which is used by the international coalition as base for the coordination of airstrikes and training of FSA factions and the launching of military operations aimed at the capturing of the city of Al-Bukamal.
Nawaf Al-Bashir defected from the ranks of the regime during the beginning of the Syrian revolution, however he changed his mind and announced his support for the regime several months ago.