Timeline | Recent developments across Syria
August 8, 2021
Regime-controlled areas
-SOHR activists have reported new chapter of targeting civilians and proxies in the Syrian desert, in areas under control of the Syrian regime and its factions.
Yesterday, SOHR sources have reported a new crime against shepherds and civilians in areas under the control of the Syrian regime and its proxy militias in the Syrian desert. According to SOHR sources, unknown gunmen stormed a house in al-Atshanah village in the west of al-Rasafah in al-Raqqah desert yesterday, where they slaughtered two men and stole cattle, amid accusations against Iranian-backed militias which are largely prevalent in this region of being involved into this crime. It is worth noting that ISIS cells are also prevalent in the region.
-Reliable SOHR sources in west Euphrates region, which has been turned into an “Iranian colony” in Syria, have reported high alert by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the outskirts of al-Mayadeen city in eastern Deir Ezzor, along with the arrival of over 20 vehicles carrying anti-aircraft heavy machineguns, in the past few hours, in the surrounding areas of Ain Ali shrine on the outskirts of the city.
It is not known yet if this alertness is a part of precautionary measures by the IRGC or the Iranian-backed militias have obtained information of an expected attack by Israel or the International Coalition on their positions and posts in the region.
This development came a few days after Iranian-backed militias had installed a mobile air-defence system in al-Mazare’ area on the outskirts of al-Mayadeen, where surface-to-air missiles were fixed and camouflaged.
In early August, SOHR activists reported that Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps sat aircraft-detecting radar system in al-Mazare’ area which is the largest gathering for Iranians around al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. According to SOHR sources, Iranian military experts supervised the process of fixing and operating the radar.
It is worth noting that al-Mazare’ area has strategic importance because it is located on high area exposing al-Mayadeen city and areas controlled by Syria Democratic Forces and the International Coalition in east Euphrates region.
While on July 16, reliable sources in west Euphrates region reported that the IRGC-backed militia of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas withdrew from their military post near al-Shabli archaeological site on the outskirts of al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, where the militia handed over the military post to the Lebanese Hezbollah.
-SOHR activists have reported that a displaced Syrian man in al-Hawl mini state was shot dead in the head earlier this morning by ISIS unknown gunman. The victim was a civilian from Deir Ezzor countryside and he was assassinated by a gunman believed to be ISIS member in the fourth section of the camp.
It is worth noting that number of the murder crimes since the end of the first phase of the security campaign has reached 21, a worrying indication amid fears of resurgence of crimes in the camp.
-SOHR activists have reported renewing tribal clashes with heavy machine guns, today, in eastern Daraa countryside, due to a new dispute between Al-Suwaidan and Al-Juhaishi’s members, amid escalating tensions and road cut in Giza town and its surrounding areas.
Clashes have caused death of two children and injuries of an adult in discriminate shooting, following amid renewed tribal clashes in the town.
It is worth mentioning that a big tribal dispute took place between the two tribes earlier over death of a civilian in a shooting also. However, no final agreement to end the differences has been reached yet.
Most of Al-Suwaidan tribe’s members belong to the military security, regime and Russian-backed local factions. Meanwhile, al-Juhaishi tribe has its own weapon.
-SOHR activists have reported severe humanitarian crisis in Daraa al-Balad and its surrounding areas in the countryside of Daraa city, represented in shortage of flour allocations for producing bread, in addition to the sufferings of civilians to obtain food and drinking water amid work suspension for weeks that coincided with regime military reinforcements and escalations in the city.
The regime forces and the 4th Division have continued shelling with heavy artillery fire Daraa al-Balad, Daraa camp, al-Sad road, al-Agamy, Rai area east of Muzayrib and western outskirts of Tafas.
These attacks came as a new pressure on the residents and the dignitaries of Daraa to accept the demands of the regime forces, amid daily meetings between the Central Committees and Hawran Tribes Committee and the Security Committee under the mediation of a Russian delegation.
Daraa province had witnessed an alarming calm, coinciding with a meeting that was held today between members of Hawran Central Committee on one side, and representatives of the Syrian regime on the other, following the meeting between the Central Committee with the Russian delegation yesterday, August 6, in light of the Russian promises to reach a final agreement and end the escalations, where the area witnessed a state of anticipation to what would happen after the meeting.
SDF-held areas
SOHR activists have reported that the Turkish forces have targetted with mortar shells and heavy artillery fire al-Husharya village north east of Manbij city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, where over twelve shells have hit the civilians’ houses in the village. However, no casualties have been reported yet.
SOHR activists have reported that a displaced Syrian man in al-Hawl mini state was shot dead in the head earlier this morning by ISIS unknown gunman. The victim was a civilian from Deir Ezzor countryside and he was assassinated by a gunman believed to be ISIS member in the fourth section of the camp.
It is worth noting that number of the murder crimes since the end of the first phase of the security campaign has reached 21, a worrying indication amid fears of resurgence of crimes in the camp.
“De-escalation zone”
SOHR activists have reported that two civilians killed and six others injured most of them belong to one family in an artillery attack by the regime forces targeting Kastoun town in Sahl al-Ghab northwestern of Hama.
Earlier today, the regime forces shelled with heavy artillery fire the surrounding of a Turkish military checkpoint in Ziadiyah village in the countryside of Jisr al-Shughur western of Idlib. However, no casualties have been reported yet.
Meanwhile, sl-Mashik, al-Mansoura and al-Enkawi in Sahl al-Ghab villages in the northwestern countryside of Hama have been subject to land bombardment with dozens of shells fired by the regime forces stationed in the western side of Sahl al-Ghab.
On the other hand, clashes with heavy machineguns erupted between regime forces and the local factions in south Idlib countryside in the vicinity of al-Futyrah frontline. However, no casualties have been reported yet.
Yesterday morning, SOHR sources had reported that regime forces bombarded several rockets fire in the outskirts of Idlib city. Moreover, regime forces shelled positions in Jabal al-Zawiyah in the southern countryside of Idlib and Sahl al-Ghab in the north-western countryside of Hama.