The Guardian: The Ground Passage from Tehran to Lebanon, a Plan in Progress

According to The Guardian, one of Iran's goals in creating a Shiite crescent to strengthen its influence in the region is to establish a land route from Tehran to Lebanon. This route is being realized from Tehran to Iraq, from there to Syria, and through Syria to Lebanon, reaching the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The Guardian reports that Shiites from Iraq to Lebanon have been mobilized to expand Iran's sphere of influence in the region and the eastern Mediterranean. This route begins in transit areas that Iran has used to send forces and weapons to Iraq over the past 12 years. It is the same path that the Quds Force used to initiate street warfare against American forces in Iraq with the help of its allies, who are now playing a role in the fight against the 'Islamic State.' The Guardian mentions the town of Baaj in the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, as a new focal point for Iranian activities and its allied Shiite militias in achieving this goal. A Guardian journalist who visited Baaj depicted this abandoned town with its blocked streets filled with overturned vehicles, closed shops, and the iron gates of dilapidated houses that open and close with the hot winds of the region. However, The Guardian notes that Baaj, which was once under the control of Al-Qaeda and later ISIS, may be one of the last strongholds remaining in the hands of Islamic State fighters. The slogans from the ISIS era are still etched on the walls of Baaj, and there has not been enough time to erase these signs, but from now on, this location, according to The Guardian, is set to become a pivotal point for strengthening the important communication axis for Iranian forces in achieving the goal of expanding Iran's influence in the region. Forces that were recently engaged in military operations against ISIS to drive them out of the region are now solidifying their foothold in Baaj. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, one of the important field commanders of the Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite forces, in an interview described by The Guardian as rare, proudly spoke of the recent achievements of his militias in establishing a new line of influence from Mosul towards Syria, as a result of recent successful military operations. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis's real name, whose mother is Iranian and father is Iraqi, and who was born in Basra, is Jamal Jafar Ibrahim, and he received this nickname due to his education in engineering. According to the report, while sitting in one of the tribal meeting halls in Baaj, al-Muhandis recalled that although Al-Qaeda faced defeat in these areas, it was not long before ISIS emerged there. Al-Muhandis added that fighters were reaching Baaj from the Turkish border in 2013 and 2014 to join ISIS ranks in Iraq. However, according to the Guardian's correspondent, after recent defeats of ISIS in Baaj, Iranian-backed Shiite bulldozers and vehicles are moving along the highway between Qayyarah and southern Mosul, and while conducting military operations against the remaining ISIS forces in the region, they are struggling to force them into further retreat. The Guardian reports that Iraqi Shiite militias are also simultaneously strengthening their forces in confrontation with the opponents of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. According to the report, al-Nujaba commanders told their senior members earlier last month (May) that establishing a land corridor for sending and dispatching logistical support and personnel under Iranian supervision across Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon is on the agenda. In the central square of Baaj, the slogan 'From Mosul to Baaj; Thank you, General Soleimani' is painted in color to express gratitude for the role of this commander of the Quds Force in these developments. According to The Guardian, Iranian-allied forces, by executing the wishes of Qassem Soleimani, have established themselves on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border, near the Damascus-Baghdad highway, and have simultaneously engaged in at least three operations near the town of Al-Tanf with American forces and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. Previously, Reuters reported that Al-Tanf in Syria, near the Jordanian border, is a place where Syrian rebels say that with the expansion of the area under the influence of American forces in southeastern Syria, the risk of direct confrontation between American forces and Iranian-backed forces and supporters of the Syrian government has increased. According to security sources, one of the goals of the international coalition's presence in Al-Tanf is to prevent the opening of a land communication route between Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militias. Reports indicate that Hadi al-Amiri, the commander of the Iraqi Badr forces in the Popular Mobilization Forces, has assisted Qassem Soleimani in planning the establishment of the desired land corridor for Iran. Achieving Iran's goal of establishing such a passage could prevent the consolidation of America's foothold in the region. The Damascus-Baghdad highway is the focal point of all parties' struggles to maintain their current lines, but al-Nujaba commanders say that alternative potential corridors are also under consideration, especially as the defeats inflicted on ISIS rapidly change the battlefield scenes around the borders. The Deir ez-Zor axis from eastern Syria to the fields and Palmyra (Tadmur) and from there to Damascus is currently being proposed as a possible alternative route to the Damascus-Baghdad highway for operations by Iranian-allied Shiite forces. This report refers to one of the recent events in which Iranian-allied forces converged on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border, in an area between Al-Tanf and Deir ez-Zor, as a turning point in the three-year war against ISIS and describes it as a success for Iran in achieving some of its goals in the region. Iranian-allied Shiite commanders told The Guardian, 'Our goal is to ensure security at the Syrian border because stability will encompass the entire region.' With the consolidation of Iranian-allied forces on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border, and since the mid-sized cities of these two war-torn countries are also under the control of their governments, part of Syrian territory at the Lebanese border remains under the control of the remaining opponents. However, experts say that Iran is also opening its way from Damascus to the important port of Latakia on the Mediterranean Sea. The route drawn on The Guardian's map indicates the path from Tehran towards the Mediterranean waters with these points: Baqubah - Sharqat - Baiji - Fields - Deir ez-Zor - Palmyra (Tadmur) - Damascus - Latakia. Iran has previously had access to Lebanon via the Damascus-Beirut highway. Recently, it was claimed that Israeli fighter jets targeted shipments carrying newly dispatched military equipment from Iran for Hezbollah, which were supposed to be delivered from Damascus to Lebanon. Israel has confirmed its airstrikes at least once. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman have expressed concern that the Iranian regime is establishing a land route to the Mediterranean Sea and Lebanon and has been planning for this goal for a long time. The Israeli government and military experts consider the consolidation of Iran and its allies' foothold along this route and in Syria and in the Mediterranean waters a serious threat and have stated that they will not tolerate it. Mr. Netanyahu has traveled to Moscow in recent months to convey this explicit message and has discussed these issues in his meetings with the U.S. President last month. Ynet, the website of Yedioth Ahronoth, also reported in recent days that Iran is eager to dominate the Al-Tanf area because this strategic area between the Baghdad-Damascus highway facilitates the movement of forces and military equipment to Syria and possibly from there to Lebanon. Ynet reported that the presence of Iranian-allied militias in Al-Tanf comes amid the presence of American forces in the area due to Jordan's request, out of concern for the dangers posed by ISIS. Last week, during a weekly press conference, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran was asked about recent reports of confrontations between Iran and the U.S. in Syria. According to Fars News Agency, Bahram Qasemi responded, 'The U.S. actions in Syria are somewhat suspicious and unjustifiable... They must accept the realities of the region and we are waiting for them to return somewhat to their balanced actions.'