On December 23, Liwa Fatemiyoun, an Iranian-backed Afghan group operating in Syria, released a propaganda video threatening Israel.
The video, titled “When the Time Comes,” shows one of the Afghan group’s members, likely a commander, standing a few kilometers away from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in southern Syria.
“The final target is that mountain ahead,” the fighter says in the video while pointing at what appears to be Mount Hermon, adding “We are close to Israel.”
Liwa Fatemiyoun, an Iranian-backed Shia militia, produce a video showing their fighters a short distance away from the #Golan Heights.
“Final target is that white mountain ahead which is the Golan Heights & being held by #Israel.” English subtitles added for translation. #Syria pic.twitter.com/kELPzH1LlA— Joe Truzman (@Jtruzmah) December 24, 2019
Operating in the Syrian governorates of Aleppo, Homs and Deir Ezzor, Liwa Fatemiyoun is believed to has between 10,000-20,000 fighters.
The Afghan group, which is funded, trained, and equipped by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), played a key role in the battles against ISIS in central Syria during 2016 and 2017.
In the video, a narrator says that the battle against ISIS and other terrorist groups in Aleppo and Palmyra were only “preparations” for the final battle with Israel in the Golan Heights.
Last year, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) regained control of a long strip of the separation line with Israel in southern Syria following a large-scale operation. Back then, many reports claimed that Israel and Russia reached an agreement that would keep Iranian forces 30-40 km away from the line. These reports were not apparently accurate.
The Syrian occupied region gained attention once again last March, when U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Trump’s decision was rejected by Damascus, its allies and even Washington’s allies in the Middle East and Europe.
Despite being meant as propaganda, Liwa Fatemiyoun’s video highlighted the tension in southern Syria. The Israeli media viewed the video as a direct threat to Israel with many warning that Iran is strengthening its presence near Golan.
