Iran Offers Rewards for Identifying Spies in Deir ez-Zor Meeting

Representatives of Iran and its proxies held a meeting in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, where they discussed offering rewards for identifying spies, according to Syrian reports. The meeting took place amidst heightened tensions following recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian assets in the country.

This development comes on the heels of an Israeli airstrike on April 1, 2024, which killed seven members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two senior officials, General Sadegh Omidzadeh, the intelligence deputy of the IRGC's Quds Force in Syria, and his deputy Hajj Gholam. The attack occurred during a meeting of Iranian-backed groups in a high-security zone in Damascus.

While there was no immediate official confirmation that Israel was behind the strike, Israeli media reported it. The IRGC identified the four other members killed as Hojatullah Omidhar, Ali Aghazadeh, Hossein Mohammadi, and Saeed Karimi.

In recent months, Iran has reduced its military presence in Syria after a series of strikes blamed on Israel. Iranian forces have withdrawn from southern Syria, including the Quneitra and Daraa provinces near the Golan Heights. However, Iran still maintains a presence in other parts of the country, with Iran-backed Lebanese and Iraqi fighters taking the place of Iranian forces in some areas.

Why this matters: The targeting of Iranian officials and the subsequent meeting to identify spies highlight the ongoing shadow war between Israel and Iran in Syria. As tensions escalate, the risk of a wider regional conflict increases, with potential implications for stability in the Middle East.

The meeting in Deir ez-Zor and the offering of rewards for identifying spies underscore Iran's determination to maintain its influence in Syria despite the mounting pressure from Israeli strikes. As one Syrian source noted, "Iran is not backing down and is taking steps to protect its assets and personnel in the country." The situation remains fluid, with the possibility of further strikes and retaliation in the coming weeks and months.

Key Takeaways

• Iran and proxies met in Syria to offer rewards for identifying spies amid Israeli strikes.
• Recent Israeli airstrike killed 7 IRGC members, including 2 senior officials, in Damascus.
• Iran has reduced military presence in Syria after strikes blamed on Israel, but maintains influence.
• Targeting of Iranian officials and meeting to identify spies highlight ongoing shadow war in Syria.
• Escalating tensions increase risk of wider regional conflict with implications for Middle East stability.