Syria’s Daraa Remains Volatile Despite Russian Efforts

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Syria’s southern province of Daraa is still a flashpoint, with no end of the hostilities in sight.

On August 12th, the former rebels began attacking Syrian Arab Army (SAA) positions. Coming out of Daraa city, and specifically from its southern part – Dara al-Balad, the fighters attacked SAA posts in the center of the town of Nawa.

Another checkpoint on the road towards the town of Tasil was also targeted.

At the same time, local fighters in Jasim attacked the town’s cultural center, where a force of the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) is situated.

Both the SAA and GID suffered no losses, but the attacks were meant as a message of rejection.

The SAA have besieged Daraa al-Balad where more than a hundred wanted fighters are taking shelter.

Russia has been facilitating talks between the authorities and local leaders to resolve the crisis in Daraa al-Balad peacefully. A delegation visited the province, inspecting checkpoints and holding talks with the former rebels.

No progress has been made despite these efforts.

Local leaders are still refusing to accept the demands of Syrian authorities who demand that wanted fighters are to be expelled and weapons are to be put down. In addition, Damascus wants to deploy SAA personnel in order to guarantee security.

Meanwhile, Greater Idlib remains as volatile as ever. An exchange of fire that can be described as a “sniper war” is developing in the region.

On August 11th, an elite sniper of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was hunted down by SAA snipers in the region. The militant, identified as Hassan Khalid Rahal, was shot and killed by snipers of the SAA in the al-Zawiya Mountain area in the southern part of Greater Idlib.

HTS snipers have stepped up their attacks in the last few months. The SAA has responded by deploying its own snipers to the frontlines.

Previously two militants of HTS’ Abu Baker al-Siddiq Brigade were killed by SAA snipers, again on the al-Zawiya mountain frontlines.

On August 11th, al-Qaeda-affiliated HTS announced that it had shot down a Russian drone over the northwestern region. The drone, identified as an Orlan-10, crashed in the vicinity of the town of al-Ruwaihah. HTS’ Amjad news network shared photos of the drone’s wreckage.

This was the second Russian drone to be lost in Syria on the same day. The first one was downed over the northeastern al-Hasakah province.

HTS and its allies in the al-Fateh al-Mubeen Operation room regularly violate the ceasefire in Greater Idlib. In recent weeks they have done so under the pretext of supporting the former rebels in Daraa. Still, the SAA and the Russian Aerospace Forces continually respond to these violations.

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