-
Bombing Targets 'Aswad al-Sharqiya' Vehicle in Deir ez-Zor
A bomb exploded in Deir ez-Zor city, targeting a vehicle belonging to the "Aswad al-Sharqiya" group, which serves as a proxy faction for the Syrian regime, near the "Globe Roundabout" in the al-Joura neighborhood.
According to an Ain al-Furat correspondent in Deir ez-Zor, the explosion occurred today, Tuesday, October 29, in an area controlled by Syrian government forces, specifically targeting a vehicle owned by Aswad al-Sharqiya leader Khaled al-Ghanam.
The fate of the leader remains unclear, and it is not known whether he was inside the vehicle at the time of the attack. Security forces have cordoned off the area surrounding the explosion site, resulting in a heavy security presence.
The news outlet "Furat Post," which specializes in covering developments in eastern Syria, reported that a bomb specifically targeted Khaled al-Ghanam's vehicle, which is a Toyota Hilux.
Social media pages, including the "Sons of Al-Jazeera and Euphrates Movement," shared video footage showing firefighting teams working to extinguish the fire that erupted in the targeted vehicle following the explosion. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the vehicle belonging to "Aswad al-Sharqiya" exploded while parked alongside the road in the Khaled ibn al-Walid neighborhood of al-Joura, with no information on injuries reported.
A similar explosion occurred last June, targeting another vehicle belonging to "Aswad al-Sharqiya" near the "Al-Fath" Mosque in the city center of Deir ez-Zor, resulting in casualties among both military personnel and civilians.
At that time, the Ain al-Furat correspondent reported that the vehicle had exploded in the al-Qusour neighborhood close to the cultural center, leaving multiple injuries behind.
Syrian government forces control the towns and cities in Deir ez-Zor located west of the Euphrates River, while Tehran maintains its influence in the region through several Iran-backed militias. According to the "Jusoor for Studies" center, Iran operates 570 military sites across Syria.
The region also hosts cells affiliated with the Islamic State organization, which conducts sporadic operations against regime forces controlling the western bank of the Euphrates River and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) managing the eastern bank.
Deir ez-Zor is characterized by the intertwining influence of Iranian forces and the Syrian army, with recorded military confrontations between the two sides occurring at various times in the past.
Numerous military groups and forces backed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are spread throughout Deir ez-Zor, primarily consisting of foreign fighters, including the "Fatimid" and "Zainabiyoun" militias, alongside the "National Defense" groups loyal to the regime.
