The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Sieged Daraa | Continuous bids of 4th Division and allied factions to advance in Daraa

Daraa province: SOHR activists have reported the bombardment of nearly 20 land-land rockets on residential neighborhood in besieged Daraa al-Balad in the early hours of Monday. The attacks coincided with the 4th Division attempts that are backed by allied factions to advance towards besieged Daraa al-Balad amid continuous rocket and heavy weapons fore at the frontlines of the areas.

Meanwhile, local gunmen have attacked military posts and checkpoints under control of the regime forces in al-Sanameen city in north Daraa countryside, in addition to another attack that has been carried out by local militants that targeted a checkpoint of the 4th Division on the outskirt of Saham al-Golan town in west Daraa countryside. But no casualties have been reported.

SOHR activists reported mass displacement of the residents of Tafs city in the western countryside of Daraa and other neighboring areas near “Yarmouk Basin” towards the Syria-Jordan borders, fearing the escalation of the bombardments in the area.

This development coincided with ongoing clashes on the frontlines of the Daraa al-Balad besieged neighborhoods, along with regime’s ongoing attempts to break into the area. Meanwhile local armed men targeted the regime’s checkpoint of al-Ruba’i which is located between al-Shaikh Saad and Masaken Jillen towns, west of Daraa.

Yesterday, SOHR activists reported that a woman was killed in rocket fire by regime forces on Jillen town in the western countryside of Daraa.

Similarly, regime forces shelled Tel Shehab town and the outskirts of Tafs city with rockets.

The death of the woman rose the death toll of civilians who were killed today in regime bombardments on Daraa province to three, as two men were killed in a bombardment that hit the neighborhoods of the besieged Daraa al-Balad, and a woman was killed by rocket attacks on Jillen town in western Daraa. Meanwhile, regime forces with their proxy militias continued targeting Daraa al-Balad neighborhoods with heavy machineguns.

Sources in the committee entrusted to negotiate with the Syrian regime informed SOHR that Daraa negotiations collapsed as the Iranian wing in the Syrian regime, including the 4th Division and Iranian-backed militias, insisted on resorting to the military choice in Daraa al-Balad. Meanwhile, the Russians and Military Intelligence Service were attempting to reach an agreement with Daraa Committee to cease fire and lift the siege on Daraa al-Balad neighborhoods.

Earlier yesterday, SOHR reported that death toll of civilians who were killed in regime forces rocket fire at Tareeq al-Sad in Daraa al-Balad rose to two, while attacks caused eight wounded due to the sporadic continuous strikes by the regime forces and its affiliated gunmen across besieged Daraa al-Balad.

Meanwhile, Hawran Central Committee said in a statement that SOHR obtained, “despite all its peaceful attempts and negotiations to reach satisfactory solutions for all to stop the murder, hunger and destruction, still the regime forces insist on dragging the region to devastating war led by Iranian officers and multinational sectarian militia like Hezbollah, Fatimyoun and Zienabyoun and others.

The statement added, such behavior is part of implementing widening sectarian plans on account of the inhabitants and in bids to eradicate the social texture and create demographic change in the population composition as well as other heinous plans that have become obvious for all.

The statement concluded by, “while events have been accelerated, we, in the western, central committee, and dafter coordination with the eastern countryside and al-Jedour have decided the following:”

“The general mobilization in Hawran in response to calls of our people in Daraa al-Balad and we announce war across Hawran, unless the regime hasn’t stopped immediately its military campaign and starts lifting the siege.”