Iraqi Shi’ite Militia Helps Overrun Damascus Suburb

Rebels Ousted From Strategic Point

Reflecting the ever growing regional nature of the Syrian Civil War, the retaking of the Damascus suburb of Sheikh Omar by pro-government forces centered on foreign Shi’ite fighters, including an Iraqi militia.

The suburb had been held by Sunni militants, including foreign Islamist fighters. Much of the rebellion centers around al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), which has aimed to take over other Islamist factions.

Shi’ites from around the region have flocked to Syria as well, mostly with an eye toward protecting religious sites from Sunni rebels. Hezbollah was noteworthy as the first Shi’ite militia to begin taking part in offensive operations, but it seems that Iraqi Shi’ites are following that trend as well.

Scores of fighters on both sides were killed around Damascus today, and the war is less and less about internal power struggles in Syria, and rather is a catch-all religious war between regional factions of Sunnis and Shi’ites, with Syrians simply trapped in the middle.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.