Syrian Army and Iran-Backed Militias ‘Intensify Attacks’ in Daraa
Several commanders of the “Free Syrian Army” say that Syrian government forces and Iran-backed militias, coinciding with increased airstrikes, are regrouping around Daraa and are “likely” preparing to conduct extensive operations to fully capture it.
A spokesman for the group known as the “Southern Front” says the Fourth Legion of Syrian government forces, along with Lebanese Hezbollah militias, has positioned itself around Daraa and may be preparing to conduct extensive operations to fully capture this region bordering Jordan.
In recent days, news agencies have reported increased airstrikes, barrel bombing, and the launching of missiles called “elephants” – homemade explosives fired using rockets – on parts of Daraa. Images released by the French news agency on June 21 show explosions in areas controlled by rebels in the city.
Reuters says airstrikes and missile attacks have specifically increased in the city’s southern areas; areas located near the Jordanian border and of great strategic importance.
Daraa is where, six years ago, initial and largely peaceful protests against Bashar al-Assad’s rule began. These protests were met with widespread suppression by government forces, and this crackdown pushed Syria into civil war, a war that is itself considered one of the reasons for the formation and activity of groups such as the “Islamic State” in this country and other parts of the world.
One of the spokesmen for the “Southern Front” affiliated with the “Free Syrian Army” told Reuters that trained forces of the “Fourth Legion” of the Syrian Army along with a number of Lebanese Hezbollah militias and other Iran-backed militias have come to the region.
It appears that the Syrian Army has begun regrouping, and several rebels view these developments as signs of government forces preparing for a broad attack on areas under their control.
Reuters quotes Adham al-Krad, one of the “Free Army” commanders, as saying that “intelligence observations” of this group show that “army forces have been deployed to the region with heavy weapons.” He added, “If the situation continues this way, we will witness a very extensive regrouping [of government forces].”
The Syrian Army or its government has not responded to these reports, including airstrikes and the increase in military forces.
According to reports, Daraa is one of the main axes of recent talks between representatives of the United States and Russia. It was recently reported that US and Russian envoys have held meetings and negotiated over establishing a “de-escalation zone” in Syria. It is said that these negotiations, still in preliminary stages, focus on determining the borders of a safe zone in Daraa province. The United States has sought that de-escalation zones be formed without Iran’s presence.
Source: Radio Farda
