For the first time in 4 days…the Russian warplanes bomb Daraa countryside after they stopped as a result of the negotiations whose failure was declared today
Daraa Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored that the Russian warplanes started their bombardment on Daraa, days after their absence from the air space of Daraa province, and in the details monitored by the Syrian Observatory; the Russian warplanes started to carry out their raids targeting areas in Sayda town which is located in the eastern countryside of Daraa, as well as other areas in Tafas town in the north-western countryside of Daraa, 4 days after the absence of the Russian warplanes from the skies of the province, without carrying out any targeting to the province, while the bombardment by the Russian warplanes is coincided with bombardment by helicopters on areas in Sayda town, amid artillery shelling by the regime forces on places in the areas of Sayda and Al-Tayba, which caused further material damage to the property of the citizens and to the infrastructure, and the warplanes are still flying over the area amid fears of escalating the bombardment and resulting in killing more Syrian citizens after the death of 143 citizens including 26 children and 30 women, the number of people who were killed since the 19th of June 2018, who were killed in the raids, intense rocket and artillery shelling and raids by the Russians and regime’s warplanes on Daraa Province, and in mine explosion.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented on the 30th of June 2018, that the Russian bombardment on Daraa province has stopped, along with stopping the bombardment by the regime’s warplanes, but the latter returned to target Tafas area by more than 22 raids on the 1st of July 2018, while the Syrian Observatory monitored the continuation of clashes between the regime forces and gunmen loyal to them against the rebel and Islamic factions, in areas in the vicinity of Tafas in the north-western countryside of Daraa city, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published hours ago that the negotiations between the Russian side and representatives of Daraa province failed as a result of the refusal of factions operating in Daraa to hand over the heavy weapons they have in Daraa province, and the failure of the negotiations is coincided with fears of the starting the Russian bombardment and the return of the regime forces’ military operation in Daraa countryside, the SOHR also published in the past hours that the Russians have rejected any amendments by the representatives of the opposition to the Russian proposal, while the negotiating committee representing Daraa called for adding other clauses regarding the implementation of the agreement, including opening a corridor towards the Syrian north to allow those who refuse the agreement in Daraa to leave to the Syrian north, and to provide Russian guarantees that the defected people of the regime forces would not be arrested, and so is the case for those who are due to the conscription service in regime’s army, the approval or refusal of the Russians for these suggestions has not been declared yet, while the locals are still afraid to return to the areas they have displaced from in the countryside of Daraa Province, because of their distrust of the regime and of the Russians, and their fear of the regime not to commit to Russian guarantees or the Russians themselves giving a blind eye on these violations by the regime, also it is anticipation for the final approval of the implementation of the agreement, which included other items based on handing over the entire heavy and medium weapons by the factions working in Daraa Province, while the light weapons remain with them for a definite period, these factions and those who wish of their members join the 5th Legion; which was established by Russia to fight jihadist groups and the “Islamic State” organization, the border crossing of Nasib with Jordan will be handed over to regime’s customs, the civil police, passport department, and police department, also the Russian police and the regime police will spread in cities, towns, and villages of the countryside of Daraa, and the government departments will also return to work in all areas, provided that the forces of regime’s army forces do not enter the remaining villages, towns, and cities that are still under the control of the factions until now, and Russia guarantees that the citizens or the fighters will not be arrested on the checkpoints while moving in Daraa Province, also members of the 5th Legion will spread on the Syrian – Jordanian border and on the border with the occupied Syrian Golan, and regarding the citizens and fighters wishing to “settle their situation” and resolved the issue of conscription; it will be agreed on having their conscription date postponed or joining certain points, also, all services will be provided and introduced to Daraa province once again.