Despite earlier media reports of “understandings” that Iranian forces would be compelled by Russia to leave the area, or at least distance themselves considerably from the Syrian-Israeli border, the reports may be premature.
Pictures of two Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah fighters killed in Dara’a province published on Sunday indicate that despite earlier reports of Iranian-backed forces beginning to leave the area, no such activity is taking place. Military analyst Qala’at Al Mudiq tweeted this weekend that Hezbollah is embedded with the Syrian Republican Guard and Fourth Division in order to avoid detection.
S. : despite claims |ian-linked forces withdrew from – to get |i green light 4 offensive, pro-Assad sources report 2 Leb. Hezbollah fighters were killed there (Hezbollah is actually embedded w/ Republican Guard & 4th Division to avoid "detection") pic.twitter.com/26PVrnrBJO
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq)
A separate report by Rotter.net quoted Syrian rebels as saying “many Iranian forces are exchanging their uniforms for those of the Syrian army in order to blend in and thus are continuing “business as usual.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Europe this week to meet with the leaders of Germany, France and Britain to discuss Israel’s absolute refusal to allow Iran to remain in Syria at any price, in addition to his deep concern over the necessity to continue to block Iran from acquiring nuclear weaponry.