Screen grab from the protest video.
Late on May 27, Syrian security forces clashed with pro-opposition protesters in the southern city of Daraa, a former stronghold of the rebels.
Dozens of opposition supporters took to the streets in the southern part of Daraa, known as Daraa al-Balad, to protest against the presidential elections which saw President Bashar al-Assad wining with 95.1% of the votes.
The gathering was peaceful at the begining. However, the situation took a turn to the worse when the protesters marched towards the northern part of Daraa, known as Daraa al-Mahata. Key government buildings are located in this part of the city.
Syrian security forces fired in the air to break up the protestors, who numbered in the dozens per opposition sources. Four protesters were slightly injured.
لحظة دخول المتظاهرين من أبناء درعا البلد إلى مركز مدينة درعا، و استهدافهم من قبل عصابات الأسد المتمركزة على حاجز السرايا، ما أسفر عن سقوط أربعة جرحى في صفوف المتظاهرين. pic.twitter.com/uhcocNrICP
— ثورة شعب (@thawrat111) May 27, 2021
Anti-government protests are held on a regular basis in Daraa al-Balad. This was, however, the first time since the 2018 reconciliation deal that the protesters clashed with security forces. In recent protests, most protesters were armed with assault rifles.
Despite a boycott by opposition supports, calls for a general strike and attacks on government forces, the presidential elections were held in many parts of Daraa.
The situation in Daraa is slowly spinning out of control. Soon, Damascus may find itself forced to take drastic measures, militarily or politically, in order to secure and stabilize the region.
