The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Growing tension | Regime forces open intensive and indiscriminate fire in western Daraa, hours after the arrival of new military reinforcement

Daraa Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Reliable sources have told SOHR that regime forces stationed in the “Irrigation Foundation” in the east of Al-Muzayreb town in the western countryside of Daraa open intensive and indiscriminate machinegun fire in the area, which sparked a state of panic among the area’s residents.

 

SOHR sources have just reported that regime forces brought in new reinforcement to the western countryside of Daraa, as nearly 15 vehicles carrying soldiers and heavy machineguns were stationed in the “Irrigation Foundation” in Al-Muzayreb town. Meanwhile, popular concern was prevailing among the area’s residents who were fear of a large-scale campaign under the pretext of searching for suspects.

 

On March 25, SOHR activists in the western countryside of Daraa said that the 4th Division brought in new military reinforcement to the area, as military vehicles and soldiers arrived in Al-Jami’at and Al-Rai institution areas between the towns of Al-Yadoda and Al-Muzayrib, west of Daraa, which had witnessed bloody events in mid-March. The Fourth Division also erected soil barriers and cut off the road connecting the two towns.

 

While on March 17, SOHR sources said that members of “Al-Ghayth Forces”, a prominent military formation of the 4th Division, blew up the house of “Abu Tariq Al-Subaihi”, the former opposition commander who was responsible for the ambush which left 21 members of regime intelligence service and 4th Division dead in the previous day.

 

It is worth noting that the commander and his family escaped from the house which is located in Al-Muzayreb town on the road to Al-Yadoudah in western Daraa.

 

SOHR sources reported earlier that regime forces and 4th Division brought in new military reinforcement to their positions in the “Al-Rai Foundation” on the eastern outskirts of the town of Al-Muzayrib, as tanks, soldiers, military and logistical supplies arrived in the area. This development follows yesterday’s ambush by a group affiliated to a former commander of opposition factions on the road between Al-Muzayrib and al-Yadoudah which left great human losses among the members of 4th Division and regime intelligence service. Meanwhile, tense calm prevailed throughout the region with a state of high alert by all sides.

 

A day earlier, SOHR activists documented a spike in the number of fatalities in an ambush nearby Al-Muzayreb town in western Daraa, as 21 members of regime intelligence service and 4th Division were killed, while five other soldiers injured, some seriously.

 

SOHR activists documented a few hours earlier the death of 12 members of regime intelligence service and 4th Division in an ambush by gunmen affiliated to a former opposition commander called “Abu Tariq Al-Subaihi” nearby Al-Muzayreb town in the western countryside of Daraa. Violent clashes erupted between regime members and the attackers, while regime forces sent large military reinforcement to the area.

 

It is worth noting that Al-Muzayreb town in rural Daraa is free of regime forces and it is completely under the control of ex-fighters of opposition factions. The town also experienced dramatic developments a few weeks ago, before an agreement was reached under Russia’s sponsorship and guarantees on January 26.