Hours after pulling the weapons of a Brigade fighting the regime… factions backed by the International Coalition execute an attack and advance at the expense of the regime forces in Rif Dimashq Dessert

Rif Dimashq Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the SOHR learned that violent clashes continued to take place since last night, Tuesday the 1st of August 2017, between the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, on one hand and Jaysh Usud Al-Sharqiyyah and Ahmad Al-Abdu Forces on the other in areas in the southeastern part of Rif Dimashq. Reliable sources confirmed to the SOHR that the factions managed to make an advancement into the area taking control of Beir Mahruthah area, which used to be under its control previously in an attempt to advance into the area and regain control over the areas they lost during the past few weeks as a result of the regime’ successive attacks on the area. Clashes are accompanied by an exchange of intensive violent shelling on areas of clashes. The factions also managed to seize weapons, ammunition and vehicles. Clashes left dead and injured among the regime forces and their allied militiamen.

It is worth mentioning that the Syrian dessert has experienced violent battles between the regime forces and their allied militiamen, of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, on one hand and Shuhada’a’ Al-Qaryatayn Brigade, Jaysh Usud Al-Sharqiyyah and Ahmad Al-Abdu Forces during the past few months, during which the regime forces managed to take a step ahead of the factions. Such an advancement could have allowed the regime forces, in case they managed to advance into the few kilometers that are still under the control of the factions, to besiege the factions in the area extending from this advancement line to its west till they reach Al-Asfar area and west of Al-Sein Military Airport. The factions operating in Al-Suwaidaa dessert, which interests with the southeastern part of Rif Dimashq, informed the SOHR on Sunday that they have not been informed, whether by a regional or international entity, about the ceasefire in the southern Syria. The SOHR published yesterday that

The International Coalition had pulled the weapons with which they supplied Shuhada’a al-Qaryatayn Brigade operating in the Syrian Desert along with the forces of Ahmad al-Abdu and Jaysh Usud al-Sharqiyyah. Specifically, the Syrian Observatory learned from reliable sources that the International Coalition pulled the weapons with which it provided the Brigade, which declared a few days ago that it “rejects its supporter because the Brigade does not support fighting the regime” which created tension between the leadership of the International Coalition and the Brigade it used to back. The Brigade then issued a final statement of which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights obtained a copy, in which Shuhada’a al-Qaryatayn Brigade stated that the leadership of the Coalition and the Brigade agreed to resolve their issues, provided that the Brigade continues its military operations against the regime.

Reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the final statement was issued as an amendment to another statement, which was not published; the content of that previous statement was revealed to the leadership of the Coalition by one of the Coalition-backed faction leaders. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights received a copy of that statement, the items of which were as follows:

1. The Pentagon seems to condone the advancement of Iranian militias throughout Syria in general and the Syrian Desert in particular, despite the direct talk of the US president Donald Trump about confronting Iran in Syria.
2. Not allowing us to repel the Iranian attack, which is advancing on the road of Damascus – Baghdad.
3. Preventing us from advancing and liberating our land from Daesh and remaining in Tanf Camp.
4. The Pentagon’s insistence on transferring “Maghawir al-Thawra” to Al-Shaddadi Area in Al-Hasaka province.
5. The lack of support and the difficult conditions set for the admission of new fighters compared to the way in which the “Syria Democratic forces” are treated, as the latter are receiving huge support and recruit large numbers of fighters periodically. “