Reacting to military escalation on Daraa al-Balad | Local gunmen attack and seize regime posts and checkpoints in west and east Daraa countryside
Daraa province: SOHR sources have reported fierce clashes on several frontlines throughout Daraa province between regime forces and security services on one hand, and local gunmen on the other, as a part of a series of attacks launched by the gunmen on regime posts and checkpoints in response to the regime military escalation on Daraa al-Balad in Daraa city.
According to SOHR sources, local gunmen managed to take over Sayda and Um al-Mayazen checkpoints in the eastern countryside of Daraa and al-Rayy checkpoint in al-Muzayrib in west Daraa countryside, amid reports of taking over other checkpoints in eastern Daraa.
On the other hand, fierce clashes continue in Daraa al-Balad as a part of regime forces’ attempt to storm the region, amid reports of the death of five regime soldiers and security services in the ongoing clashes across Daraa province.
Furthermore, SOHR activists have documented the death of a man due to regime attacks on Daraa al-balad, bringing the number of civilians killed in the town since morning to two.
SOHR sources have just reported that regime forces targeted several positions in Daraa al-Balad in Daraa city this morning with medium and heavy machineguns, mortars and short-range surface-to-surface missiles, which killed a man and injured others. Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted between gunmen from the town on one hand, and regime forces and security services on the other, during an attack by regime forces on the region. Moreover, several mortars hit positions in Daraa camp.
On the other hand, headquarters of the regime state security service in Inkhil city in the western countryside of Daraa came under attack by local gunmen, but no casualties were reported. This attack came as a part of reaction to the regime military escalation on Daraa al-Balad.
Last night, SOHR sources reported that unknown gunmen opened machinegun fire on the cultural center in Jasim city in Daraa countryside where members of the regime state security service were stationed, but no causalities were reported.
On the other hand, members of regime forces stationed at a checkpoint between al-Ghoriyah and al-Msifrah town in Daraa countryside withdrew. Moreover, other regime soldiers withdrew from checkpoints in Alma town after unknown assailants set these checkpoints ablaze. However, regime forces boosted their military checkpoints in Jasim city and the intercepting roads.
SOHR sources had reported clashes between regime forces and their proxy militias on one hand, and local gunmen from Daraa al-Balad on the other, nearby al-Kaziyah roundabout in Daraa al-Balad in Daraa city, along with similar clashes on the outskirts of of Daraa camp. Moreover, ambulances were seen rushing to the conflict zones.
The clashes started by machinegun fir by regime forces on Daraa al-Balad, which caused damage to the only medical centre in the town, amid reports of putting it out of service.
On the other hand, SOHR sources monitored the arrival of a Russian column at the headquarters of the Russian-backed 8th Brigade in Bosra al-Sham in the eastern countryside of Daraa with the aim to start discussions and reaching a solution putting an end to the dramatic development in Daraa al-Balad.
SOHR activists documented earlier in the morning the death of a young man after being hit with a gunshot yesterday when regime forces opened fire indiscriminately on the neighbourhoods of Daraa al-Balad. Meanwhile, cautious calm is prevailing in the town, while a new round of negotiations between the central committee and regime forces was expected to start in light of the collapse of the latest negotiations.
On the other hand, a group of Daraa city’s residents appeared in a video clip in which they issued a statement, calling for evacuating them to a safe place, so that they would be kept away from military operations. The statement followed the military escalation in areas in the city on the previous day by regime forces, which left casualties.
