The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

In their quest to besiege the factions and regain full control over the second province in Syria… the regime forces supported by their loyal gunmen advance in the Syrian Desert

The Syrian Desert is witnessing continues violent clashes between the regime forces supported by their loyal gunmen of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities against the rebel factions who are supported by the International Coalition, the Syrian Observatory learned that the clashes between both parties are concentrated in areas in the south and southeast of Jabal Sis in the southeast of Rif Dimashq, in conjunction with heavy and intense shelling by the regime forces on the clash areas, and the regime forces were able -during their continuous offensive since the 10th of July 2017- to achieve an advancement and control new areas, within their pursuit to besiege the factions’ controlled areas in the Syrian Desert, and if the regime forces were able to connect their controlled areas in the southeast of Rif Dimashq with the northeastern countryside of Al-Suwaidaa, they would have completely besiege the forces of Ahmad al-Abdu and Jaysh Usud al-Sharqiyyah, who have become in front of 2 options now: either pull out of the area just before being besieged by the regime forces completely, or get into the siege and fight till the end.

This clashes in areas of Abu Khashbah, Kherbet Raqbah and al-Makhrutah area and its hill, which was controlled by the regime forces yesterday, were accompanied with an escalation of airstrikes by warplanes on the clash areas, amid exchange of targeting between both parties, but no information about casualties, and if the regime forces were able to force the factions to withdraw just before they control the area between the advancement line, the siege and the desert stretching between the southeast Rif of Damascus and the northeastern countryside of Al-Suwaidaa, then they will be able to regain control of about 2800 km, the regime forces will also regain control of Al-Suwaidaa province completely, and thus become the second province under the control of the regime forces after Tartous province.

It worth mentioning that the factions operating in the Desert of al-Suwaidaa which is interconnected with the southeast of Rif Dimashq reported that they have not been informed by any party regional or international about a cease-fire in the Syrian south, where the regime forces are seeking to avoid the fight in al-Suwaidaa province which is covered by the Russian – American – Jordanian agreement, which imposed a truce in the Syrian south since the 9th of July 2017.