The Russian-American-Jordanian Ceasefire Agreement in the Syrian south goes into effect

The SOHR learned that the regional-international agreement went into effect in three provinces of southern Syria, namely Daraa, Al-Quneitra and Al-Suwaidaa, at 12 pm today, the 9th of July 2017. The SOHR has observed so far that calm is prevailing the provinces of southern Syria and no violations of the truce have been reported so far although the few moments that preceded its implementation witnessed the firing of several shells by the regime forces on faction-controlled areas in Daraa but no casualties have been reported so far.
This American-Russian-Jordanian agreement that includes three provinces of southern Syria came after violent battles during the last few weeks between the factions active there and the regime forces and their allied militiamen. where in al-Suwaidaa province there are Jaysh al-Asha’er, Ahmad al-Abdu Forces and Jaysh Usud al-Sharqiyyah, while the southern factions which supported by regional and international parties in Daraa Province, including Jaysh al-Yarmouk, Hamzah Brigade, Umari Brigade, the Islamic movement of Ahrar al-Sham, Hayyaat Ta Harir al-Sham, Soqur al-Islam Brigade, Ahrar Nawa Division, al-Haramain Brigade, Fajr al-Umma Division, al-Moataz Billah Brigade, Shabab al-Sunnah Brigade, Mujahidee Horan Brigades, Ababil Horan, Usud al-Sunni Division, Bayt al-Maqdes Group, Shuhada’a al-Huriyah Brigade, Jaysh al-Moataz and other factions, while in Al-Quneitra Province there are Jabhat Thowwar Syria, al-Ezz Brigade, Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham, Forsan al-Golan Brigade, al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigade, al-Sebtayn Brigade, 46th Infantry Brigades and Ansar al-Islam Front, while in Yarmouk Basin area in the western countryside of Daraa is controlled by Jaysh Khalid Ibn al-Walid who swore allegiance to the “Islamic State” Organization.

The factions operating in Al-Suwaidaa desert, which intersects with the southeastern part of Rif Dimashq, that they have not been informed by any regional or international entity about the ceasefire in southern Syria. The SOHR obtained information from reliable sources that the agreement provides for the withdrawal of the regime forces and their allied militiamen and the rebel and Islamic factions from contact lines in all areas, the deployment of the regime’s internal security forces in these lines whereas the rebel and Islamic factions participating in the agreement will be assigned the task of protecting all public and private establishments. In addition, it also stipulates the departure of all those unwilling to participate in the agreement, the full withdrawal of the regime’s allied militiamen – of non-Syrian nationalities, preparation of the infrastructure necessary for the return of refugees from Jordan successively, holding municipal elections and granting municipalities broad powers, and finally the delivery of humanitarian aid to the areas that abide by the ceasefire. The SOHR published on the 17th of June 2017 that a Russian-American-Jordanian truce was put into effect in Daraa Province and was extended till the 20th of June but came to an end as a result of the renewed aerial and artillery shelling by the regime forces and their allied militiamen, helicopters and warplanes.