Iran-backed terrorists abandon positions along Iraq-Syria border, avoid phone calls after US vows revenge for Jordan

After the United States vowed to avenge the death of soldiers slain in the deadly drone attack in Jordan, blaming Iran-backed terror groups for the dastardly strike, reports suggested that Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria were vacating their military posts in anticipation of an American retaliatory strike. Media outlets reported that terrorists belonging to Islamic Resistance in Iraq had abandoned their positions along the Iraq-Syria border, leaving behind a skeletal crew. Reports said the move came as the US heightened reconnaissance activity. Terrorists are so terrified, reports said, that leaders were afraid of using mobile phones, lest they be tracked and hit. A report by the Times of Israel quoted Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet, as saying that Iran-terrorists in east Syria too had begun abandoning their positions. Layla told The Associated Press the areas are the strongholds of Mayadeen and Boukamal. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is an overarching umbrella group for Iran-backed terrorists. It has been carrying out drone attacks in Syria and Palestine and has claimed responsibility for several attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began. The Times of Israel report claimed that three officials with Iran-backed militias in Iraq averred that the drone attack in Jordan had been carried out by one of the Iraqi groups, though no faction has yet claimed credit.