The regime forces take a step ahead of the dessert factions and expand their scope of control at the border with Jordan

Violent clashes erupted again between Ahmad Al-Abdo Forces and Jaysh Usud Al-Sharqiya on one hand and the regime forces and their allied militiamen on the other in areas in the Syrian dessert located in the southeastern part of Rif Dimashq. The SOHR learned that clashes were concentrated near the Syrian-Jordanian border checkpoints. The regime forces managed to advance again and take control of two border checkpoints, amid shelling on areas of clashes. Casualties were reported at both sides as a result of clashes, shelling and the exchange of targeting.

The SOHR published the day before yesterday that the regime forces managed to regain control over two border checkpoints. It also published a few days ago that that it learned that the regime forces made an advancement into about 5 border posts and other points, which used to be controlled by the factions. In addition, the SOHR published earlier that since the 25th of August 2017 the regime forces managed to take control of 10 positions, including border checkpoints, which used to be controlled by the factions. Clashes were accompanied by an exchange of targeting between both parties, and by shelling by the regime forces on areas of clashes and positions of the factions. Casualties were reported at both sides. It is worth mentioning that the SOHR also published on the 10th of August 2017 that the regime forces made a strategic advancement into the area and took control of border posts, putting an end to the factions’ presence at the Syrian – Jordanian border within the administrative border with Al-Suwaidaa Province. Clashes were accompanied by an exchange of shelling and airstrikes targeting areas of clashes. Such an advancement left no access to the factions to the east and southeast parts of Syria except for a border strip at the border of the southeastern part of Rif Dimashq with Jordan, in addition to a border strip with Iraq extending over the provinces of Rif Dimashq and Homs, which includes al-Tanf border crossing between Syria and Iraq. This advancement came after more than a month of  continuous attacks by the regime forces, less than 48 hours following the implementation of the southern Syria truce. The factions operating in the countryside of Al-Suwaidaa then said that they have not been notified by any party about the agreement and its items. The agreement was reached by a Russian-American-Jordanian consensus and came into force on the 9th of July 2017 in the Provinces of Al-Suwaidaa, Quneitra and Daraa.