Eight Syrian fighters under the command of the Revolutionary Guards, an elite body of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s army, were killed on Tuesday in a knife attack in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced.

This is the second attack of this nature in as many days, noted the non-governmental organization based in Britain, which has a wide network of sources in Syria.

“Unknown gunmen” launched an attack near the town of Mayadin in Deir Ezzor province, according to the same source.

The eight fighters, who were “under the command” of the Revolutionary Guards, were “slaughtered” in a knife attack on their position, said Rami Abdel Rahman, the NGO’s director.

Deir Ezzor province is crossed by the Euphrates River, a natural border between areas controlled by Damascus forces and allied organizations, backed by Tehran, on the west bank, and those controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, a US-backed alliance, under Kurdish leadership), in the east.

After seizing vast swaths of Syrian and Iraqi territory since 2014, the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group was finally defeated in Syria in 2019, but dormant cores remain on its soil in areas bordering Iraq that frequently launch attacks, especially against the SDF and Syrian regime troops.

Three Syrians under the command of the Revolutionary Guards were killed on Monday in an attack on their position near Mayadin, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Armed groups backed by Iran have been fighting alongside Syrian government forces since the outbreak of war in Syria in 2011, triggered by a crackdown on democratization protests in the country.

Thousands of fighters of various nationalities believed to be close to Iran are deployed in Deir Ezzor province, according to the NGO.