The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Ceasefire and lifting siege on Daraa | First steps to implement new agreement between Hawaran Committees and the Russians

Daraa province: SOHR activists have reported that the Russian delegation proposed several terms to reach a settlement in Daraa, including the following:

 

  • Lifting the siege imposed on Daraa al-Balad.

 

  • Civil police to be stationed in several positions.

 

  • Conducting Russian patrols

 

  • Hading over of weapons in possession of civilians

 

  • Evacuation of dozens of wanted individuals and people opposing to the agreement.

 

According to sources, the Russian delegation called the Central Committee in Hawaran for a meeting to be held tomorrow to discuss and raise decisions to the residents and the tribal committees before starting implementing the new agreement.

 

SOHR sources explained that Daraa would witness ceasefire and lift of siege imposed on Daraa al-Balad through opening al-Sariya crossing in the first hours of implementing the new agreement. Moreover, the other terms of the agreement is expected to be implemented in no more 15 days.

 

Earlier today, SOHR sources reported that the negotiation committees and the Russian delegation agreed on starting a new round of negotiations tomorrow, Sunday, which would be followed by several meetings and communications between the Russians and the Central Committees in Hawaran in order to discuss several terms of the “Russian proposal” with the aim to put an end to the military escalation in Daraa.

 

SOHR activists documented earlier this morning the death of a civilian in regime attacks with heavy weapons on residential neighbourhoods in Daraa al-Balad.

 

Moreover, three civilians sustained various injuries due to regime mortar fire on Jasim city in the northern countryside of Daraa.

 

On the other hand, local gunmen attacked regime forces stationed at al-Souq checkpoint and the post office in al-Sanamayn city, leaving several soldiers injured. These attacks came as a response to the siege imposed on Daraa al-Balad.

 

Furthermore, regime forces and the 9th Division shelled the western neighbourhood in al-Sanamayn city, but no casualties have been reported.

 

Similarly, regime forces shelled, with mortars and tanks, areas in the neighbourhoods of Daraa al-Balad, Daraa camp, Tariq al-Sadd and Jasim city, but no casualties were reported.

 

These developments came a few hours before the meeting scheduled to be held today between Russian forces and the Central Committees in Daraa with the aim to put an end to the growing chaos in Daraa province.

 

Yesterday, SOHR activists reported cautious calm in Daraa province, along with a meeting between the Central Committee in Daraa with the Russians under the Russian proposal in preparation for another meeting tomorrow, Saturday, which was supposed to include a settlement that might bring the chaos in Daraa to an end.

 

On the other hand, forces of the 4th Division shelled the neighborhoods of Jasim city with a mortar in the northern countryside of Daraa. However, no casualties were reported.

 

Earlier in the morning, SOHR activists reported a meeting between the Central Committee in Daraa and a Russian delegation in Daraa city centre. This meeting came after days of suspension of negotiations between the Security Committee and the Central Committee in Hawaran, under Russian supervision.

 

On the other hand, several residents protested the arrest of a member of the 8th Brigade of the 5th Corps from Um al-Mayathen town in eastern Daraa. The demonstrators have blocked the international highway between Daraa and Damascus. It is worth noting that the man was arrested by the regime’s military security service in Daraa city.

 

SOHR sources had reported complete closure of al-Saraya checkpoint that separates Daraa al-Balad from Daraa al-Mahatah. Meanwhile, regime forces removed the soil barriers and blocked the road before the displaced people in light of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Daraa and the acute shortage of food, water and bread supplies.

 

For over 50 days, the Syrian regime and the 4th Division continued to impose full or partial siege on Daraa neighbourhoods, draining the local gunmen and depleting the population provisions under pretext of “negotiation stalemate between the Central Committee of Hawran and the regime forces”.

 

Despite the de-escalation agreements, regime forces and the 4th Division continued their attacks and bombardment with heavy and medium weapons in Daraa al-Balad, its surrounding areas and villages.