Timeline | Recent developments across Syria
August 8, 2021
Regime-controlled areas
-SOHR sources have reported that violent clashes continued in Daraa al-Balad in Daraa city until this dawn between the 4th Division and local gunmen, as the 4th Division was attempting to advance into the town. Despite the intensive bombardment which accompanied the attack, the 4th Division failed to advance into Daraa al-Balad. Meanwhile, tense calm has been prevailing the region since dawn, while the two sides are being put on high alert. It is worth noting that no agreement or settlement has been reached so far, despite promises by the Russia.
Aleppo
-SOHR activists have reported that dozens of civilians have protested outside Marea Hospital in Aleppo countryside’s city of Marae, against the Turkish administration of the hospital in north Syria for firing a Syrian doctor and preventing him from practicing his job. The Turkish Administration decision was taken in response to doctor stance against a Turkish nurse who insulted a dentist in the hospital. The Turkish administration of Marea Hospital has issued a dismissal order of doctor, Osman Heggawy, and prevented him from practicing his profession in north Syria. According to medical sources, Turkish nurse, Ali Rida, has a history of verbal insulting for the medical staff of the hospital. The dismissal decision has been signed by the Turkish senior physician and the hospital administration. Doctor Osman Heggawy is well known with his good behavior and human stance in his work according to medical sources.
-SOHR sources have reported that violent clashes erupted between Ahrar al-Sham and the 9th Division in Afrin city centre on the highway to al-Villat street. Moreover, Ahrar al-Sharqiyyah stormed houses of members of the 9th Division on al-Villat street, amid exchange of heavy fire
SDF-held areas
-SOHR activists have documented that the SDF’s anti-terror units escorted with the International Coalition forces have carried out a security operation in al-Shaddadi countryside in al-Hasakah.
According to reliable sources, the security operation has targeted two members of ISIS cells, who were hiding near Tel al-Gayer in the eastern countryside of Al-Shaddadi town, while the raiding forces managed to arrest two ISIS members and seized documents and technical equipment in their possession.
The operation took place 24 hours after an attempted assassination against the head of the Public Security Service and his companion in Tel Hamees in the countryside of al-Hasaka.
-SOHR activists have reported that an identified gunman has shot dead an Iraqi refugee and wounded other Iraqi refugees and a Syrian displaced woman in first section of Al-Veiz market in al-Hawl camp in countryside of Al-Hasakah. It is worth noting that number of the murder crimes since the end of the first phase of the security campaign has reached 22, a worrying indication amid fears of resurgence of crimes in the camp.
“De-escalation zone”
-SOHR sources have reported rocket attacks carried out by opposition factions this morning, targeting regime positions in Maarrat al-Nu’man city in the southern countryside of Idlib and Jurin in the western countryside of Hama, but no casualties have been reported. This bombardment came as a response to yesterday’s artillery fire by regime forces on Qastoun, which left a family of nearly ten people dead and wounded.
-SOHR sources reported earlier this morning that one of the people documented among the fatalities of the massacre committed by regime forces in Qastoun in Sahl al-Ghab was still alive, as he had been retrieved from under the rubble. However, he was in a serious condition. Accordingly, the number of fatalities documented by SOHR was four sibling children. SOHR activists also documented the injury of five other people of the same family. It is worth noting that these civilians were killed and injured due to regime rocket fire on Qastoun town in Sahl al-Ghab in the north-western countryside of Hama.