The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Looming military operation | Pro-Iranian “Fourth Division” brings in large military reinforcement to Daraa

Reliable sources have informed SOHR that the “Fourth Division” of the Syrian regime’s army, led by Maher al-Assad, brother of the regime’s president Bashar al-Assad, has brought in large military reinforcement to their positions in Daraa province. Where dozens of vehicles, including tanks and trucks loaded with military and logistical equipment, and soldiers arrived this morning in the city of Daraa, coming from the capital Damascus.

These reinforcement are most likely part of a large-scale security campaign that the pro-Iranian 4th Division is preparing to launch in Daraa, particularly in western countryside, amid popular fears of arbitrary arrests as usual.

SOHR sources hust said that Daraa province, the “cradle of the Syrian Revolution”, is witnessing an ongoing and increasing chaos, threatening civilians in various aspects of their lives, in light of the proliferation of weapons and the multiplicity of actors in charge, as each side tries to wrest control of the province, whether the Russian side through the Fifth Corps and loyal affiliated forces, or the Iranians through the Fourth Division and its affiliated militias, while the Syrian regime stands idly.

As security chaos continues to escalate, SOHR sources have monitored 46 attacks in Daraa governorate since the beginning of 2021, through various forms and methods, including detonating IEDs, landmines and shootings. These attacks claimed the lives of 23 people, categorised as follows:

  • Nine regime soldiers, loyalists and collaborators with the security services.
  • Seven opposition fighters who struck reconciliation deals and joined the regime’s security services.
  • Seven civilians.

Since the beginning of the security chaos in Daraa in early June 2019, Syrian Observatory activists have documented more than 857 attacks and assassination attempts by gunfire and detonations of IEDs, motorcycle-bombs and car-bombs. These attacks and assassinations claimed the lives of 568 persons, categorised as follows:

  • 158 civilians, including 12 women and 16 children

  • 252 regime soldiers, loyalists and collaborators with regime security services

  • 111 fighters of factions that struck “reconciliation and settlements” deals with the regime and became in the ranks of regime’s security branches, including former commanders

  • 23 Syrian militiamen affiliated to the Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian forces

  • 24 members of the so-called 5th Corps which was established by Russia.