On September 29, heavy clashes broke out between Druze fighters and former rebels in the vicinity of the town of al-Qrayya, which is located on the administrative border between al-Suwayda and Daraa.
The attack began when Druze fighters, led by the so-called “Men of Dignity” group, launched an attack to recapture farmlands near al-Qrayya from the Russian-backed 8th Brigade, a unit of the Syrian Arab Army 5th Corps, that is dedicated for former-rebels who joined the reconciliation process in 2018.
Fighters from the 8th Brigade, which is led by former rebel commander Ahmad al-Auda, captured the farmlands a while ago.
The clashes around al-Qrayya lasted until September 30 eve. Heavy weapons, including mortars and anti-tank guided missiles were used. The Men of Dignity, who are known for their stand against the Damascus government, failed to recapture the territory.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 16 Druze fighters were killed and at least 63 others were injured in the clashes. The 8th Brigade lost 12 fighters while 23 others were wounded.
The situation around al-Qrayya is calm now. Nevertheless, a new round of clashes may start soon as Druze fighters are still determined to recapture the farmlands.
The conflict highlights the state of lawlessness prevailing over southern Syria. Government forces are slowly losing their influence over the region. This may soon lead to more dangerous confrontation.
