Under the title "IRGC Takes Advantage of Russian Activity in Raqqa to Smuggle Weapons," Al Arabiya reported on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) smuggling arms amid recent Russian movements, which involve the establishment of a base at the administrative border between Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa.
According to sources from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, on Wednesday, the IRGC transported a shipment of Iranian-made missiles from Al-Mayadeen to the eastern countryside of Raqqa. The details indicate that the IRGC recently moved Iranian-made missiles from the stockpiles inside the historic Al-Rahba Castle in the vicinity of Al-Mayadeen to a commercial truck typically used for transporting fruits and vegetables, as part of a now-obvious camouflage effort.
The truck then headed towards the Al-Mayadeen-Deir ez-Zor highway and continued to areas under the control of Iranian-backed militias in the eastern countryside of Raqqa, with no information available about the transport's objectives at this time, especially since it coincided with Russian movements a few kilometers from that area, specifically in Al-Mahdian Al-Ateeq desert at the administrative border between Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa.
### New Russian Base
The observatory had noted last week that Russian forces continue to establish a new base in the southeastern countryside of Raqqa at the administrative border with Deir ez-Zor, having completed the construction of a landing site in the vicinity of Al-Mahdian Al-Ateeq. Russian helicopters have begun using it, and the establishment of military points near the landing site continues, while Russian forces are still transferring logistical and military equipment to finish the planned project.
The information suggests that the Russians aim to achieve multiple goals simultaneously in consolidating their influence in the area, primarily to limit Iranian expansion and set boundaries for it, as they are situated not far from the area. They are also relying mainly on the Fifth Corps established by Russia and are working to combat the activities of ISIS, which have become evident in recent times in the desert.
### Campaign Against ISIS
It is worth mentioning that a military delegation, including officers from the "Russian Military Police" and others from the Moscow-aligned "Fifth Corps," visited the Al-Tabqa military airport and conducted a reconnaissance tour of national defense and Fifth Corps positions in the Raqqa countryside. This comes amidst the arrival of reinforcements for the Syrian government forces and the Fifth Corps, aimed at launching a new military campaign in the Syrian desert, specifically in the Al-Safiyan and Al-Rasafa areas in Raqqa countryside, against ISIS.
