Three individuals, including a child, were killed in a drone strike on a truck near the Syria-Iraq border on Thursday evening.
The attack took place in the vicinity of a military base controlled by Iran-aligned militias near the town of Al-Bukamal, in Deir Ezzor province, eastern Syria.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the victims included a non-Syrian national, a member of an Iran-backed militia, and a child.
The drone, described as “unidentified,” targeted a refrigerated truck near the military base. Al-Bukamal, located close to the Syrian-Iraqi border, is a hub for pro-Iranian militias, with many of their headquarters situated within residential areas, putting civilians at significant risk.
The presence of these militias, which store weapons in residential neighborhoods, poses a constant threat to local residents.
Iranian militias have long-established bases within Al-Bukamal, and their influence extends across the region.
In August, members of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces seized several homes in the Al-Bukamal neighborhood of Al-Jamiyat, near the border.
This development reflects a broader pattern of pro-Iranian forces exploiting local populations and their property to solidify long-term control over the region.
The strategic location of Al-Bukamal lies on the vital Tehran-Beirut land corridor, a crucial route for Iran.
Iranian influence in the region is evident not only in military activities but also through cultural efforts to reshape the demographic and cultural landscape of key Syrian areas, from Al-Bukamal to the outskirts of Damascus.
