The southern region of the Syrian desert, known as the Badia, has been witnessing a fierce military incursion by the Assad regime and allied militias seeking to control large areas of the border linking Syria with Iraq and Jordan.
Regime forces, backed by Iraqi and Iranian militias, redirected their battles following several airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition near Al-Tanf border crossing area with Jordan, shifting their focus toward the eastern Suweida and eastern Damascus countrysides with the aim of reaching the border areas with Jordan and Iraq.
Said Saif, media director for the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo, a Free Syrian Army-affiliated group, told Zaman al-Wasl that the Badia region has witnessed fierce fighting over the last few weeks due to regime attacks on the eastern Suweida valley and the eastern Damascus countryside.
Saif pointed out that regime forces have used heavy and medium weapons in their offensive, adding that Russian warplanes have provided support to the government forces and allied militias during the battles.
The regime seeks to separate the Syrian opposition factions in the Qalamoon area and prevent the targeting of the military airports in the Badia in order to reach the Jordanian-Iraqi border in southeastern Syria. The campaign’s success would achieve land connection between the militias in Iraq and the militias in Syria, and hand control of a large number of border crossings with Jordan over to the regime.
Saif said in addition to its regular forces, the regime has called intense Russian air support and large numbers of militia fighters to the Suweida countryside. The Badia area is large and exposed, making it difficult for the transport and arrival of opposition reinforcements, Saif added.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
