DAMASCUS: Rebels have seized the southwest city of Daraa. The city became a center of protests in the civil unrest in Syrian in 2011 that followed the government crackdown on protesters.
On Friday, the so-called Southern Operations Room, which includes various opposition factions, said it had captured the whole city. However, the Syrian Defence Ministry has not yet confirmed this information.
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The opposition now engages with Assad’s forces both from the north and from the south, with the meaningful aspiration to blockade the capital, Damascus.
Daraa is especially significant due to the outbreak of the uprising in Syria in this city in 2011 and today’s rebellion victory is a symbolic loss for the regime.
Other than Daraa, rebel forces have also captured the Nassib border crossing along the Syrian-Jordan border that acts as a vital spot on the M5 highway connecting Aleppo and Damascus.
The gains the opposition has achieved recently in the north have been just as rapid. Taking Aleppo and Hama in less than two weeks the insurgent forces are now led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other militant groups.
They are heading towards Homs next, it is a city in central Syria and it is one of the most important because it links other important provinces in the country. On Friday, opposition fighters said that they had seized the last village on the perimeter of Homs and were now headed for the city.
Should Homs be lost it would divide Assad’s territory in half, leaving Damascus exposed to the outer robe and the much-needed coastal areas.
The advancement made by the opposition is considered a major increase in the intensification of the civil war which had relatively stagnated over the recent years owing to ceasefires and foreign intervention.
This has reactivated the war which in the past involved regional and global forces such as Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. In the past four years, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 300,000 civilians and forced millions into becoming refugees.
In the northeast, the anti-Assad Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is affiliated with the US and recognized as the Syria branch of the banned PKK group, have been successful. The PKK has been conducting a murderous terrorist war against Turkiye and has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.ast village on the outskirts of Homs and were closing in on the city itself.
If Homs falls, it would effectively split Assad’s territory in two, isolating Damascus from the coastal regions, which are crucial to the regime’s support base.
The opposition’s rapid progress marks a significant escalation in the civil war, which had largely stagnated in recent years due to ceasefires and foreign interventions.
This renewed fighting has reignited the conflict, which has in the past drawn in various regional and international powers, including Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the US. Over 300,000 civilians have been killed, and millions displaced since the war began in 2011.
In the northeast, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Syrian branch of the PKK group, have made significant gains.
The PKK has been waging a deadly armed campaign against Turkiye and is listed as a terrorist organization in the US and European Union.
The SDF, seized Deir el-Zor, an important government stronghold in the eastern desert, and the southern town of Albu Kamal near the border with Iraq. Deir el-Zor is the third major city in a week to be brought under the opposition’s control after Aleppo and Hama.
This is because the rebellion has progressively become more active, a factor that makes Assad’s allies worried. Iran which has been occupied with the conflict with the Israelis due to the Gaza situation has nevertheless declared its intention to send more military hardware and personnel to Syria. A top Iranian official said that Hermas also would help Assad’s forces by supplying intelligence and satellite information.
Conflict in Syria has escalated due to Russia backing key personnel of Bashar Al-Assad’s government which has failed to solve its crisis. Russia having joined in the Syrian war in 2015 shifted efforts and focus to the Ukraine war beginning of February 2022.
These accomplishments have encouraged other parts of Syria; local uprisings and defections are on the rise.
Fighting erupted in the sheikhdom of Druze in southern Sweida between April 8 armed militias of Druze and Syrian security forces that led to the elimination of at least three armed men. Anti-government fighters also seized local police and prisons. These developments are underpinning the general campaign to remove Assad.
Although they share the common objective of seeking regime change in Syria, the opposition is divided into factions. HTS, which was an offshoot of al-Qaeda but has disavowed the parent organization since 2016, has tried to market itself as an effective antidote to Assad. For the first time since his group launched its operation in late November, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani emphasized that the objective of his group is the establishment of a new Syrian state and the return of refugees from Lebanon and Europe.
The recent gains made in their fight to oust presidents have been worrisome to neighboring countries. While Iran, Iraq, and Syria condemned the opposition forces as a ‘serious threat’ cool-headed, Israel has increased its military arrangements to ward off opposition forces. The US State Department has urged its citizens to quit Syria because the security situation is getting worse.AST three deaths. Anti-government fighters also took control of the local police station and prison. These developments are fueling the broader effort to oust Assad.
While the opposition remains unified in its goal of toppling the Assad regime, internal divisions exist among the various factions. HTS, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that has distanced itself from the organization since 2016, has sought to present itself as a viable alternative to Assad’s rule. In his first interview since his group began its offensive in late November, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani reiterated that their ultimate aim is to build a new Syria and bring refugees back from Lebanon and Europe.
The rapid advances by opposition forces have raised alarms in neighboring countries. Iran, Iraq, and Syria issued a joint statement calling the opposition forces a “danger,” while Israel has heightened its military preparedness in response to the shifting dynamics on the ground. The US State Department has warned American citizens to leave Syria due to the increasingly volatile security situation.
FAQs
Who are the Syrian insurgents?
Syrian insurgents consist of various opposition groups, including moderate rebels, Islamist factions, and others opposing the government of Bashar al-Assad. Their objectives and alliances vary widely.
Why is Daraa significant in the Syrian conflict?
Daraa is considered the birthplace of the Syrian uprising in 2011. Its strategic location near the Jordanian border and its symbolic importance make it a critical area in the conflict.
What does Assad losing control of Daraa mean for the conflict?
Losing Daraa signals weakening government control in southern Syria and could embolden opposition forces, potentially altering the dynamics of the civil war.