Fiercest clashes since regime’s control of Daraa | 25 regime soldiers and security members killed and captured by local gunmen
Local gunmen take over nearly ten posts and checkpoints in east and west Daraa countryside in support of Daraa al-Balad
Daraa province: SOHR activists have reported that Daraa province has experienced fierce battles since morning, exactly several positions in the region from the province’s eastern countryside to the western countryside, including Daraa city, between regime forces and security services on one hand, and local gunmen on the other. It is worth noting that these battles have been the most violent ever since regime forces captured the entire province nearly three years ago. The battles started with the significant military escalation by regime forces on Daraa al-Balad in the early hours of Thursday morning when regime forces fired short-range surface-to-surface rockets (elephant rockets) and mortars and opened heavy machinegun fire on the town, amid attempts to storm it.
Meanwhile, local gunmen from Daraa al-Balad confronted to the regime forces’ attempts, while local gunmen from Daraa started successive attacks on posts, positions and checkpoints of regime forces and security services in Daraa countryside in response to the military escalation on Daraa al-Balad.
In this context, the local gunmen managed to take over the checkpoints of Um al-Mayazen, al-Tayba, Sayda, Kahil, al-Harrak and al-Mulayha in the eastern countryside of Daraa, as well as the posts of al-Shajarah, Tasil and al-Bakar in the western countryside of Daraa. The local gunmen also captured al-Raayy checkpoint on the road to al-Muzayrib in western Daraa, before regime forces regained control of the checkpoint a few hours later after intensive rocket fire. It is worth noting that heavy weapons were used in these clashes.
Syrian Observatory activists have documented the death of eight regime soldiers and proxy militiamen in today’s clashes throughout Daraa province, while three local gunmen were also killed. In addition, two civilians were killed in regime bombardment on Daraa al-Balad. The death toll is expected to rise further as the bombardment and clashes left several persons injured, some seriously.
Moreover, the local gunmen managed to capture over 15 regime soldiers in west and east Daraa countryside and seize weapons, ammunition and a tank belonging to regime forces.
A few hours ago, SOHR sources 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 continued 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 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 had 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.