The Imam Ali military base is an Iranian military base located near the eastern Syrian town of Abu Kamal, near the border with Iraq.
| Imam Ali Military Base | |
|---|---|
| Near Abu Kamal, Deir ez-Zor Governorate in Syria | |
  Imam Ali Military Base Location in Syria | |
| Coordinates | 34°27′13″N 40°56′12″E / 34.45361°N 40.93667°E |
| Type | Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Syria |
| Controlled by | Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces |
| Condition | Operational |
| Site history | |
| Built | 2019 |
| In use | 2019–present |
History edit
The base has been constantly undergoing construction since early 2018.[1] Fox News reported on 4 September 2019 that a "classified Iranian project", the Imam Ali military base, was being constructed near Abu Kamal,[2] which was confirmed by satellite images. The project was approved by the top leadership in Tehran and is being completed by the Iranian Quds Force.[3]
On 9 September 2019, reports emerged that "Iranian" or "Iranian-backed militias" had been targeted in airstrikes, which appeared to be similar to a June 2018 airstrike that targeted a Kata'ib Hezbollah base at a similar location. Satellite imagery taken by ImageSat International in late 2019 suggests a tunnel system is being built, which Western intelligence sources believe will hold missiles.[4]
The site has been struck multiple times by the Israeli Air Force after which the construction of tunnels was noticed to have accelerated,[1] and would soon be operational, as of November 2019.[5]
The site was struck again on 25 February 2021[6] by the United States military in retaliation for multiple rocket attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq ten days earlier,[7] and became the first known offensive military operation carried out under U.S. president Joe Biden.[8][9] On 28 June 2021, another airstrike targeted the base, which left at least nine Iran-backed Iraqi militia fighters dead and many others injured, according to SOHR.[10]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Iran is building tunnels in Syria near Iraq border for weapons". The Jerusalem Post. December 10, 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "Airstrikes at Al Bukamal? The alleged Iranian base and the 'explosions'". The Jerusalem Post. September 9, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ "Iran building new classified military base in Syria: intelligence sources". Christians United For Israel. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Yingst, Trey (December 10, 2019). "Iran building new tunnel to house missiles: intelligence sources". Fox News. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "Iranian Military Base in Syria Believed to Soon be Operational". Behold Israel. November 19, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Knights, Michael (26 February 2021). "Biden's Warning to Iran and Its Proxies: Implications of the Syria Strike". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ Starr, Barbara; Liebermann, Oren (25 February 2021). "US carries out air strikes in Syria targeting Iranian backed militia structures". CNN. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "Joe Biden orders airstrike against Iranian-backed militia in Syria". ABC News. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "U.S. targets Iranian-backed militias in Syria with airstrikes". CBS News. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "Death toll update – Nine militiamen of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces killed in US airstrikes near Syria-Iraq border • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". June 28, 2021.