The new Syrian authorities intend to return 2,400 Syrian servicemen who deserted from Deir ez-Zor province to Iraqi territory. This was reported by the Syrian newspaper Al Watan.
According to its information, the main command of the united forces of the armed opposition, which established control over Syria, is negotiating with the Iraqi authorities on the extradition of soldiers and officers who took refuge in Iraqi territory after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
As reported by the Sky News Arabia TV channel, citing sources, Iraqi officials doubt that there are high-ranking officers of the government army among the deserted servicemen. According to the TV channel, the commanders of the Syrian armed forces could have left Iraq for Iran, fearing persecution by the new Syrian authorities.