Sec. 508. Sense of Congress and report on Iranian efforts in Syria
577 words·~3 min read·
/bill/116/hr/3494/eh/section-508A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that, regardless of the ultimate number of United States military personnel deployed to Syria, it is a vital interest of the United States to prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hizbollah, and other Iranian-backed forces from establishing a strong and enduring presence in Syria that can be used to project power in the region and threaten the United States and its allies, including Israel. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that assesses— efforts by Iran to establish long-term influence in Syria through military, political, economic, social, and cultural means; and the threat posed by such efforts to United States interests and allies.
The report under paragraph
(1)shall include each of the following: An assessment of— how Iran and Iranian-backed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hizbollah, have provided or are currently providing manpower, training, weapons, equipment, and funding to the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad; the support provided by Iran and Hizbollah to Shia militias operating in Syria that are composed of domestic fighters from Syria and foreign fighters from countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Pakistan; the threat posed by Iran and Iranian-backed forces to the al-Tanf garrison and to areas of northeast Syria that are currently controlled by local partner forces of the United States; the degree to which efforts of the United States to sustain and strengthen Kurdish forces in Syria may undermine the influence of Iran and Iranian-backed forces in Syria; how Iran and Iranian-backed forces seek to enhance the long-term influence of such entities in Syria through non-military means such as purchasing strategic real estate in Syria, constructing Shia religious centers and schools, securing loyalty from Sunni tribes in exchange for material assistance, and inducing the Assad government to open Farsi-language departments at Syrian universities; and whether the prominent role of Iran in Syria, including the influence of Iran over government institutions, may increase the likelihood of the reconstitution of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Syria. An analysis of— how Iran is working with the Russian Federation, Turkey, and other countries to increase the influence of Iran in Syria; and the goals of Iran in Syria, including, but not limited to, protecting the Assad government, increasing the regional influence of Iran, threatening Israel from a more proximate location, building weapon-production facilities and other military infrastructure, and securing a land bridge to connect Iran through Iraq and Syria to the stronghold of Hizbollah in southern Lebanon. A description of— how the efforts of Iran to transfer advanced weapons to Hizbollah and to establish a military presence in Syria has led to direct and repeated confrontations with Israel; and the intelligence and military support that the United States provides to Israel to help Israel identify and appropriately address specific threats to Israel from Iran and Iranian-backed forces in Syria. The report under paragraph
(1)shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.