While all eyes are focused on Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon - the Iranians and their dogs are siting pretty in Syria.How much of a threat are they?
- Across Syria there are 670 IRGC Quds Force bases, with at least 150,000 people, according to data from the end of 2023.
- In addition to them, more than 20 Shia militias (emissaries of the Quds Force) are stationed in Syria, among them the Imam Ali Brigade, the Fatmiun Brigade and other forces made up of Shia volunteers from around the Middle East.
- Outside of Syria, there are at least 100,000 people in the Iraqi militias united together in the al-Hashd al-Shaabi organization and 100,000 armed in Hezbollah in Lebanon.
-Parallel to the Shia axis there are the Syrian armed forces, with an active force of 170,000 men and an additional reserve force of at least 50,000 soldiers with wide mobilization potential in an emergency.
All these forces are armed from head to toe and have been trained in combat for at least the last 12 years.