The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Recent developments across Syria

 

 

May 12, 2021

 

 

Regime-controlled areas

 

-Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activists have reported new airstrikes by Russia on the Syrian desert, where Russian jets have launched, since early morning, more than 25 airstrikes targeting ISIS positions at the administrative borders between al-Raqqah and Deir Ezzor, specifically the surrounding areas of Jabal al-Bishri, and positions in Aleppo-Hama-al-Raqqah triangle, as a part of the Russian efforts to put an end to ISIS activity and impede its movements in the region.

 

-Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) activists have reported the arrival of military enforcement of the local militia of Haj Qassem Soleimani for strengthening its posts and positions in the desert of Al-Bokamal and along the Iraq-Syria border strip. According to SOHR activists, nearly 165 fighters came from the areas of Nebl and Al-Zahraa in the west of Aleppo to al-Mayadeen. It is worth noting that Haj Qassem Soleimani militia has been formed recently in these areas with direct fund and support from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

 

-SOHR activists have documented the death of a civilian after being shot by unknown gunmen on the road between Naf’a and Jamlah towns in the western countryside of Daraa. It is worth noting that the assassinated man was defected from the regime’s military police a few years ago, and he worked as a taxi driver after he struck a reconciliation deal in 2018.

 

 

SDF-held areas

 

-Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stormed, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the town of Al-Shuhayl in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor for the second day in a row, arresting six people on charges of “belonging to ISIS”. Meanwhile, International Coalition drones were seen flying over the area.

 

-Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activists in Deir Ezzor have reported that Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have stormed yesterday a river crossing in Huwaigat al-Busayrah eastern Deir Ezzor that connects SDF-held areas on the bank of Euphrates river and regime-held areas on the river’s opposite bank. During the security operation, a ferry and tanks filled with diesel that was ready to be smuggled to the regime-held areas were confiscated by SDF.

 

 

Aleppo

 

-SOHR activists have reported a prisoners-swap deal between Turkish-backed factions and regime forces, as a woman, two young men and other prisoners detained in regime’s prisons have been released in return for the release of several regime soldiers and the bodies of other soldiers who were in the factions’ custody. The swap deal took place at Abu al-Zindayn crossing in the countryside of al-Bab city in eastern Aleppo, under supervision of the Syrian Red Crescent.

 

-SOHR activists have reported growing security tension and heavy gunfire in al-Bab city near the Centre roundabout following a fight between Turkish-backed police officers and other people near the roundabout. According to SOHR sources, one of the fighting persons was hit with a gunshot fired by mistake by a member of the police, while an armed group later kidnapped this police officer. On the other hand, members of Sultan Murad brought in military reinforcement to the area and blocked the roads to the Centre roundabout, along with evacuating checkpoints in al-Bab city’s market by the police. Also, tens of Pickup vehicles belonging to the military police with submachine guns installed over them are prepared to storm the Centre roundabout, removing the checkpoints of Sultan Murad Division and defuse the tension in the region.

 

-Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activists in Manbij city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo have reported that the “Energy Board” of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has suspended the work of about 15 workers, working in transporting fuel, for a whole week, as they refused to deliver fuel to the areas controlled by pro-Turkey factions through Um Jaloud crossing, which connects areas controlled by Manbij Military Council and areas under the control of the National Army factions in Jarablus. It is worth noting that the “Energy Board” takes transportation fees of an estimated 15 USD, and gives the oil trucks’ owners three USD for each 1,000 litre of fuel transported from and to these areas.

 

-SOHR sources have reported that members of al-Sham Corps of the National Army set fire to olive fields around Barrad village of Shirawa district in Afrin countryside in northern Aleppo. The arsons have expanded to large spaced on the village’s outskirts, amid fear among the people of neighbouring villages of Mayyas, Burj al-Qas and Kalout, which are under the control of Turkish forces, that the fire may catch their farmlands.

 

-SOHR activists have documented the death of a rebel affected by the injuries he had after a vehicle belonging to the factions was targeted with a guided missile fired by regime forces stationed in Latakia mountains.

 

-SOHR sources have reported that five civilians, including a little girl, sustained various injuries due to Russian airstrikes on the surrounding areas of al-Kendeh village in western Idlib and Tardin area in northern Latakia.

 

-SOHR sources have reported that a Russian jet struck positions in the hills of Kabana in Latakia countryside with vacuum missiles. While regime forces widened scope of their bombardment on the “de-escalation zone” as they fired several artillery shells on Jabal al-Zawiyah, Bayaneen, al-Fterah, in southern Idlib, Saan, Kadour in eastern Idlib, Kherbet al-Naqous and al-Mansourah in the western countryside of Hama. On the other hand, regime rocket launchers shelled the frontline of al-Haddadah and al-Kendeh village in Latakia countryside. A few hours ago, SOHR activists documented the injury of three members of the rebel factions, after regime forces targeted their vehicle with a guided missile on Badama road in the western sector of Idlib countryside.

 

-Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activists in the “de-escalation zone” have reported violent clashes, in early Wednesday, between factions of Al-Fatah Mubeen operations room on one hand, and regime forces and their proxies on the other, at Al-Futtaira village in southern Idlib. The clashes, which coincided with exchange of bombardment, followed an attack by regime forces on the factions’ positions. However, al-Fateh Mubeeb factions managed to rebel the regime’s attack, amid reports of causalities. Meanwhile, opposition factions have raided regime positions on the frontlines of al-Dar al-Kabirah. Also, other frontlines of Sofin, al-Barah, and Fulayfel have witnessed an exchange of bombardment. Moreover, several missiles hit the surrounding areas of al-Janoudiah in western Idlib countryside without reports of casualties.