Footage emerged on Saturday of Iraqi pro-government fighters using anti- aircraft weaponry to shoot at US coalition jets near the Al-Tanf border crossing in eastern Homs. The amateur video was published by a fighter of the Badr Movement, an Iraqi contingent which operates alongside the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), 313 Forces (Syrian militia), Hezbollah (Lebanese paramilitary), Harakat al-Abdal (Iraqi paramilitary), Kataib al-Imam Ali (Iraqi paramilitary), Kataib Hezbollah (Iraqi paramilitary) along the Damascus-Baghdad highway.
Watch the video here (Video at source)
The Shiite fighters from Iraq have controversially been bombed by the US Air Force on two separate occasions; this is explained by their blitz offensive targeted an area controlled by US vetted rebels.
In the weeks to come, the SAA heavily assisted by foreign fighters hopes to capture the Al-Tanf border crossing. If succesful, land trade between Damascus and Baghdad will resume for the first time in years.
With more reinforcements arriving on the M2 highway frontier, pro-government forces have now advanced within 30 kilometers of the Al-Tanf border crossing.
Meanwhile, a unit of Norwegian special forces entered the Al-Tanf region to reinforce US and British troops. However, with the SAA and Iraqi volunteers fixated on retaking the border, coalition forces may be forced to abort mission.
Featured image: Al Masdar News