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Clashes are still ongoing in different parts of the southern Syrian governorate of Daraa despite reports of a ceasefire and ongoing talks between the authorities and former rebels.
The situation in the governorate blew up on July 29, when the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a military operation against the remaining former rebels in the southern part of Daraa city, known as a Daraa al-Balad. The operation provoked former rebels in other parts of Daraa, who responded with a series of attacks on the army.
Former rebels captured around 30 posts, camps and checkpoints of the SAA in the eastern and western countryside of Daraa.
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Click to see full-size map.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, eight Syrian service members and nine former rebels, including a notorious commander, were killed.
The London-based monitoring group also revealed that the number of soldiers and officers who were captured by former rebels is no more than 40. Pro-opposition activists in Daraa claimed that as many as 100 service members were captured.
Syrian authorities and the former rebels reportedly agreed on a temporary ceasefire on July 30. However, clashes are still ongoing in different parts of Daraa, mainly around Daraa al-Balad. No losses have been reported, so far.
A new round of Russian-sponsored talks will be held in the upcoming few hours. The chances of reaching a workable agreement remains minimum as local leaders are still unwilling to accept to the demands of Syrian authorities.
Stop talking and wipe those head choppers out.