Footage circulating on Syrian social media is drawing renewed attention to Iran’s long-standing military footprint in eastern Syria, allegedly revealing a massive underground tunnel built by pro-Iranian militias near the strategic border town of Al-Bukamal. The tunnel, located along the Iraq–Syria border east of Deir ez-Zor, is believed to have been used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to smuggle heavy weapons and ammunition into Syria.

The video shows a wide, reinforced underground passage capable of moving personnel and large quantities of materiel, consistent with previous reports of Iranian-built smuggling infrastructure in the region. Al-Bukamal has long been regarded as a critical node in Iran’s so-called “land bridge,” allowing Tehran to transport arms from Iraq into Syria and onward to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

According to regional security assessments, similar tunnel networks were constructed during the height of the Syrian civil war to evade international sanctions, surveillance, and repeated airstrikes targeting weapons convoys. These underground routes enabled Iranian-backed forces to sustain operations even as overt supply lines came under increasing pressure.

The exposure of the tunnel may signal shifting dynamics on the ground following the collapse of the Assad regime, with post-Assad Syrian forces or rival militias uncovering infrastructure that once operated in secrecy. Despite Iran facing setbacks in Syria over the past year, the discovery underscores that Tehran’s logistical networks and influence have not disappeared.

U.S. and regional officials have repeatedly warned that arms flows into Syria continue, posing ongoing threats to Israel and regional stability. The tunnel’s location near a key border crossing highlights why eastern Syria remains a focal point in efforts to counter Iranian expansion and disrupt weapons transfers to hostile proxy forces.

As more footage and details emerge, the tunnel serves as a stark reminder of the depth and persistence of Iran’s military strategy in the region, even amid political upheaval and increased international scrutiny.