Dangerous escalation | Nearly 15 gunmen killed and injured so far in raging conflict between 5th Corps and local factions in Al-Suwaidaa
Syrian Observatory activists have documented the death of six fighters of local factions, in addition to the injury of seven others in clashes and an attack on their post with a missile fired by the Russian-backed 5th Corps in Al-Mujaymez village in the south-western countryside of Al-Suwaidaa. Meanwhile, fierce clashes are underway between the 5th Corps and local gunmen from Al-Suwaidaa in the surrounding areas and outskirts of Al-Quraya in the western countryside of Al-Suwaidaa, near the administrative border with the eastern countryside of Daraa, amid confirmed reports of casualties among the 5th Corps.
SOHR sources reported earlier this morning that fierce clashes erupted in Al-Quraya and surrounding areas in the western countryside of Al-Suwaidaa, near the administrative border with the eastern countryside of Daraa, between members of the Russian-backed 5th Corps and local gunmen from Al-Suwaidaa. The clashes were accompanied by exchange of shelling, while transportation and movement in the area were completely paralyzed.
It is worth noting that the area experienced similar tension a few months ago, as SOHR sources reported in April that Tension between Al-Suwaidaa and Daraa provinces in southern Syria was escalating rapidly, especially with the worsening situations in areas in Al-Suwaidaa and other ones in Daraa since late March.
In this context, reliable sources informed the Syrian Observatory that fighters from Bosr Al-Harir in the eastern countryside of Daraa hijacked a bus carrying regime soldiers from Al-Suwaidaa and took the soldiers to unknown destination. The kidnappers explained that this operation came as a response to the kidnapping of a person from Bosr Al-Harir town by fighters from Al-Suwaidaa a day earlier.
Meanwhile, tension was prevailing in several areas in the eastern countryside of Daraa, and other areas in Al-Suwaidaa countryside near the administrative border between both provinces. Moreover, both sides were on high alert amid public concern that the escalating tension could evolve to protracted armed fight. On the other hand, the area’s dignitaries exert all possible efforts to defuse the tension between the two conflicting sides.