FILE IMAGE: Sputnik/ Iliya Pitalev.
On August 31, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) deployed troops around the town of Jasim in the western countryside of Daraa.
According to local news sources, the army established a position in the northern outskirts of Jasim and restricted the movements of people entering or leaving the town. A reconnaissance drone was also spotted flying over the town and its outskirts.
The surprise deployment is reportedly meant to counter ISIS. A number of wanted people, who are thought to be members or leaders of the terrorist group, are said to be taking shelter in Jasim under the protection of some local militants.
The army will likely deploy addition troops around Jasim and initiate talks with the locals over the issue of ISIS presence in the town in the upcoming few days.
In July, the SAA besieged the town of Tafas in the western Daraa countryside after receiving information that senior leaders of ISIS were hiding there. The siege paid off. In August, both ISIS general leader in southern Syria, Abu Salem al-Iraqi, and its top military commander in the region, Abu Omar Al-Jababi, were eliminated by the Syrian intelligence after fleeing the town.
The Syrian military, security forces and intelligence ramped up their operations against ISIS in Daraa earlier this year. The terrorist group’s influence in the governorate and nearby areas grew exponentially over the last few years. Some towns and villages are currently under the de-facto control of the group.
Something is wrong in the text. The Assad Regime soldiers are terrorists themself too.