Latest updates on Daraa, 30 August 2021

A few weeks ago, a series of meetings were held between the Daraa militants and the Syrian army with the mediation of the Russians, and it was decided to implement a ceasefire in some areas in this province. With the arrival of Russian forces in Daraa al-Balad and the start of the operation to transfer the militants by green buses to the northern regions of Syria, sporadic clashes began in various parts of Daraa province, and this affected the ceasefire agreement and the evacuation process was stopped.

Following the escalation of the conflict and the loss of lives between the militants and the Syrian army, the Russians again mediated to reduce tensions in Daraa province. Members of the Daraa Central Committee (affiliated with the militants) who attended the meeting did not accept the Syrian army’s terms and issued a statement threatening the Syrian government at the end of the meeting announced that the committee would declare war if the Syrian army did not end its siege and attack on Daraa al-Balad and other parts of Daraa province.

The terms of the Syrian negotiating party include the following:

– Recognition of Bashar al-Assad as the legitimate president of Syria.
– Recognition of the Syrian army as responsible for Syrian security
– Recognition of the Syrian flag as the national flag of the country.

Following the inconclusive meetings between the Syrian army and the militants in Daraa province, the Syrian army resumed its attacks on militant positions in various parts of the province, especially in the Daraa al-Balad neighborhood. The militants also targeted a Syrian Army checkpoint on the western outskirts of Daraa with an RPG rocket and assassinated a Syrian Air Force intelligence operative in the Nawa city.

What is clear is that the militants have no desire to leave Daraa and move to the northern regions of Syria, and they insist on being in Daraa province and continuing the clashes with the Syrian army. This issue is not acceptable for the Syrian government due to its location and strategic importance in Daraa province, and therefore, in case of complete failure of negotiations between the Syrian army and the militants, we will have to wait for the Syrian army operations in different parts of Daraa province to clear these areas.

• The first batch of militants leave Daraa by green buses!