Recent developments across Syria
May 24, 2021
Regime-controlled areas
-SOHR sources have documented the death of two ex-fighters after being shot by unknown gunmen on the bridge of Sayda town in the eastern countryside of Daraa. It is worth noting that the two members had joined the Russian-backed 5th Corps.
-SOHR activists have documented the death of a member of the command of al-Baath Party’s branch in al-Shajarah town, who is also an official in the cultural centre in Daraa , after being shot by unknown assailants on the road between al-Yadoudah and al-Muzayrib in the western countryside of Daraa, while he was heading with his 16-year old son to his farmland. Moreover, the attackers have kidnapped the boy and escaped, after they hijacked the victim’s car.
Aleppo
-SOHR activists, in eastern Aleppo countryside, have reported rising tensions in al-Bab city and countryside that are stationed under control of the Turkish forces and the factions of the operation room of “Euphrates Shield”. Meanwhile, clashes have erupted between the military police and militiamen on Ihtimaylat neighborhood wounding more then seven civilians. Following the clashes, the military police has stormed the area and arrested at least four civilians. Moreover, in al-Bab city, the military police have launched an arrest campaign on the youth residential compound and “Olive Branch” area and arrested several civilians.
-SOHR activists have reported an explosion in Jerabuls city stationed under control of the National Army factions and the Turkish forces in eastern Aleppo. The accident that was caused by bombing a motorbike near al-Shariya Mosque, has murdered three civilians and wounded other seven including serious injuries.
-Syrian Observatory activists have reported that bombardment, with heavy weapons, by Turkish forces stationed in al-Yashily base in Aleppo countryside on al-Dandaniyyah village in the north-western countryside of Manbij, in areas under the control of Manbij Military Council, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. However, no further details have been reported yet about the number of casualties and material damage caused by this bombardment.
SDF-held areas
-Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) has issued a statement on the presidential elections in Syria stressing that “it is not concerned with any elections that do not achieve the goals of the Syrians in their lives, rights and political presence, and will not be a facilitator of any electoral process that violates the meaning of the UN Resolution number 2254.”
-Autonomous Administration of north and east Syria announced, in an official statement, shutting all the crossings between its areas and the regime-controlled areas until further notice. The statement read, “all the border crossings between the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian government as of today at 7 pm until future notice. Whoever should carry on the decision should be notified.”
-SOHR sources have reported seeing Russian and Turkish forces running a new joint patrol in Ain al-Arab countryside (Kobani). The joint patrol of eight Russian and Turkish armoured vehicles set off from the border village of Gharib and toured the villages of Qarrah Mugh, Jayshan, Kharabisan Fouqani, Baghdik, and Bandar Khan village in the western countryside of Tel Abyad in the eastern countryside of al-Raqqah, before it returned to the starting point. It is worth noting that the patrol was escorted by two Russian helicopters. Accordingly, the number of Russian-Turkish joint patrols conducted in the region in May 2021 have risen to three.
“De-escalation zone”
-SOHR sources say that regime forces renewed bombardment, with heavy artillery, on positions in Hama and Idlib countryside, targeting Duwayr al-Akrad village in the western countryside of Hama, al-Fterah vllage and other positions in Jabal al-Zawiyah in the southern countryside of Idlib. On the other hand, regime forces fired several artillery shells on the hills of Kabana in Jabal al-Akrad in the northern countryside of Latakia. No casualties have been reported so far.
-SOHR sources reported that regime forces fired several rockets in the early hours of Monday morning, targeting the factions’ positions on the frontlines of Kansafrah, al-Fterah, Fulayfel, Bayanin, the outskirts of al-Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib, the surrounding areas of Qulaydin and al-Ankawy in Sahl al-Ghab in the north-western countryside of Hama. Moreover, Kansafrah town on the frontlines of Jabal Al-Zawiyah came under intensive rocket fire.
-SOHR activists in Idlib, have reported that Tahrir al-Sham-backed security service has arrested in the past few hours one its legal sons. The arrested man who doesn’t belong to any military formation, in Mahmbil neighborhood in west of Idlib, has been dragged to unknown place.