rov ik in ▁confirmed ▁the ▁ret aking ▁of ▁Ab u ▁Kam al : “ Un its ▁of ▁the ▁ 5 th ▁Ass ault ▁Corps , ▁assault ▁groups ▁of ▁brig ad ier ▁general ▁Su he il ▁and ▁milit ias ▁with ▁support ▁of ▁Russian ▁Air ▁Force ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁liber ating ▁Ab u ▁Kam al . ▁In ▁the ▁final ▁stages ▁of ▁host ilities ▁the ▁Sy rian ▁Arab ▁Army ▁gained ▁control ▁over ▁the ▁Sy rian - I ra qi ▁border ▁near ▁the ▁Eu phr ates ▁River ”. ▁ ▁However , ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 1 ▁the ▁city ▁was ▁re capt ured ▁by ▁I SI L . ▁The ▁Sy rian ▁Army ▁and ▁its ▁al lies ▁re to ok ▁complete ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁city ▁by ▁ 1 9 ▁November . ▁Conc ern s ▁have ▁been ▁raised ▁about ▁what ▁would ▁happen ▁to ▁the ▁village ▁once ▁I SI L ▁was ▁removed . ▁ ▁Iran ian ▁presence ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁elim ination ▁of ▁IS IS , ▁Iran ian - al lied ▁milit ias ▁have ▁occupied ▁Ab u ▁Kam al ▁and ▁its ▁coun tr ys ide ▁since ▁late ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁Since ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁the ▁Ira qi ▁Popular ▁M obil ization ▁Forces , ▁which ▁are ▁linked ▁to ▁the ▁Iran ian ▁Islam ic ▁Revolution ary ▁Guard ▁Corps ▁( IR GC ), ▁had ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁al - Q a ' im ▁border ▁crossing , ▁while ▁He z bol lah ▁and ▁the ▁Ha id ar ion , ▁F at im ion ▁and ▁Ze in