Media close to the Syrian regime have hinted that Assad’s forces intend to take control of the entire eastern countryside of the Daraa governorate, including the city of Bosra al-Sham, the stronghold of former opposition leader Ahmed al-Awda’s forces.
On Monday, the semi-official Al-Watan newspaper published a report titled “the entire eastern countryside under the control of the Syrian state within days.”
Assad’s forces continue to conduct settlement operations in villages and towns in the area, the newspaper said, in conjunction with combing campaigns, most recently in three towns: Sidon, Al-Nuaimiya, and Kahil.
“The number of towns and villages that have joined the settlement in the eastern countryside of Daraa since Saturday has reached 10.”
The eastern countryside of Daraa governorate comprises several cities and towns, including Naseeb, Um al-Mayathen, Taybeh, Sidon, Kahil, al-Nuaimiya, al-Jiza, al-Muta’iyah, Nada, and Amman.
In addition to the Eastern Ghariya, Western Ghariya, Eastern Maliha, Western Maliha, Eastern Karak, Masirah, al-Sahwa, Bosra al-Harir, Bosra al-Sham, Ghassam, Tasya, Maliha al-Atash, Alma, al-Lajat area, and other areas.
For years, the eastern countryside of Daraa has had a unique composition that distinguishes it from the rest of southern Syria, where it is deployed by forces belonging to the Eighth Brigade of the Russian-backed Fifth Corps.
Read Also: Regime Demands Eighth Brigade to Surrender Weapons in Daraa Countryside
These forces are led by former opposition leader Ahmed al-Awda.
Assad’s forces on Sunday demanded that members of the Eighth Brigade hand over their weapons as part of the “settlement” operations.
Sources in Daraa told Al-Souria Net that Assad’s forces demanded that the brigade’s members in the town of Saida in the eastern countryside of Daraa hand over their weapons.
Assad’s forces have issued lists of names in the town to hand over their weapons, mostly members of the Eighth Brigade led by Ahmed al-Awda, the sources said.
The Eighth Brigade has approximately 2,000 fighters, and so far the future ahead is unknown, with Assad’s forces reaching the borders of the areas where they are deployed.
Bosra al-Sham, located in the eastern countryside of Daraa, is the most prominent stronghold where the return is active with the military forces that remained under his authority.
The rest of the eastern Daraa countryside is partly an area of influence of the Eighth Brigade.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
