“Solidarity” with Tafas | Unknown gunmen attack regime checkpoint in eastern Daraa, amid threats of kidnapping in western countryside
Daraa Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: SOHR activists have monitored an armed attack by unknown gunmen, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, on a checkpoint of the 15th Division of regime forces on the international highway near Syada town in the eastern countryside of Daraa. The attack was followed by clashes between regime soldiers stationed on the checkpoint and the attackers, amid confirmed reports of casualties. This attack coincides with the ongoing tension in western Daraa.
On the other hand, unknown individuals in Tasil town in western countryside lifted placards, expressing solidarity with Tafas, which read “with the first shell hits Tafas, every regime soldier will be captured”.
Yesterday, SOHR sources said that regime forces and the 4th Division demanded, during a meeting held in Tafas city, a group of dignitaries and elders from Daraa province, the extradition or deportation of eight people to north Syria in no more 72 hours, and handing over the weapons in the city of Tafas in order to avoid a violent military operation in the area. According to SOHR sources regime forces gave the dignitaries a deadline until Thursday, the end of this week, to meet these demands.
According to SOHR sources, regime forces demanded the deportation of the eight people who were former fighters of local factions from the western region of Daraa.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Russian side and the Russian military police, who threatened to use the air force if the demands were not implemented until the deadline expired.
Syrian Observatory activists had documented a spike in the death toll of clashes in Tafas city, a day earlier, in western Daraa, which were the most violent clashes ever in Daraa since regime forces regained control of the province in 2018. According to SOHR sources, the number of fatalities among the regime-backed “4th Division” rose to 11, all killed in clashes with ex-fighters of “Fajr Al-Islam” faction led by Khaldoun Al-Zu’bi, after the attack by the “4th Division” of the faction’s headquarters had failed.
This attack came after the ex-fighters’ rejection of the demands of the “4th Division” to hand over their heavy weapons and leave to north Syria following the dramatic developments in Tafas city in January 13. On that day, fierce clashes erupted between “Kiwan” and “Al-Za’bi” tribes, during which four people of the two tribes were killed as well as the death of another woman after being hit with an indiscriminate gunshot.
On Sunday, SOHR sources said that former fighters of “Fajr al-Islam” faction, led by Khaldoun al-Zu’bi, captured three regime soldiers and attacked a checkpoint of the “4th Division”, north of Saham al-Golan town, taking the control of a checkpoint on Nafa’a-Al-Shajara road in Yarmouk Basin in Daraa countryside.