By Ihssan Muhammad
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Syrian government forces, supported by Russia and Iran, have reportedly utilized former leaders of the Syrian opposition in Daraa Governorate, southern Syria. These individuals have been given prominent positions of power, allegedly aiding in the persecution of civilians, according to locals.
Anwar al-Zubi, a pseudonym of a local group leader affiliated with the government forces, told North Press that the government recruited the high-level ex-leaders of the Syrian opposition into its ranks despite the fact they have fought against it.
He also added that the reason of using the ex-leaders is that they have good knowledge of those who oppose the government.
The government forces has been endeavoring to give those ex-leaders power to gain their allegiance and shed their sword over civilians.
Some ex-leaders of the opposition came back to Syria and occupied high positions in Military Security branches of the government forces as soon as they arrive such as Imad Abu Zreeq, who returned from Jordan, and Abu Ali who returned from Turkey.
“Those ex-leaders can move in Daraa’s cities and towns smoothly as they speak the local dialect, as a result, the government benefited from that to carry out duties may be hard on the government officers,” the source added.
Security pursuit of opponents has no end
Brigadier General Mounir Hariri, a defector of the government forces and lives in Jordan, informed North Press that the violations and security pursuit of the government against the opponents in Daraa will not come to an end.
“The government forces have no control over Daraa, so they use conflicts, sectarianism, fuelling the tribal feuds, and recruiting secret cells to assassinate the opponents,” he added.
On August 9, local sources told North Press that “five people were killed, including a journalist and government soldiers in an IED explosion in southern Daraa.”
At the time, an exclusive source told North Press that “Firas Ghassan al-Aqyla, correspondent of the state-run SAMA TV channel, aka Firas al-Ahmad, and Mustafa al-Musalma, aka al-Kassem, leader of a local armed group were killed when unknown gunmen attacked their vehicle with an IED in the Shayyah area in the south of Daraa.”
Hariri thought that al-Musalma was killed by the government forces due to finishing his duty and he became a burden on his leaders.
” Perhaps the government is embarking on a new project, which involves building closer ties with the people and gaining popular support. Furthermore, they will protect the people rights from any violation,” Hariri added.
He rules out that al-Musalma was killed for political reasons.
Muhammad al-Shara, a member of Martyrs Documentation Office in Daraa, told North Press that 88 Syrian-opposition leaders were killed after 2018 settlement.
“Thirty-eight opposition leaders were killed after joining the government forces, and seven ex-leaders of opposition were also killed after joining the Eighth Brigade, affiliated with Military Intelligence branch of the government forces,” he noted.
“Ten former opposition leaders were killed in the central committees, groups that did not support any party, in addition, 34 ex-leaders of the opposition were killed, although they did not join any military body after the 2018-Russian-brokered surrender agreement,” according to al-Shara.
In July 2018, the opposition armed factions and Syrian the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa. Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those who opposed the agreement they were sent to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front).
Violations triggered retaliations
An activist from Daraa, speaking to North Press, stated that “the violations committed by leaders in the Syrian regime have led to a backlash manifested in their continuous targeting.”
He added that “Wasim al-Zarqan, a former leader in the Syrian opposition, joined the Military Security branch after the reconciliation in 2018, was killed last May, on charges of assassinating an opposition leader and three others.”
The activist pointed out that these leaders have become “a prime target for local armed groups because they have become the hand that strikes on behalf of the Syrian regime’s security branches.”
He explained that dozens of these leaders have been “killed by armed groups,” while others have been targeted multiple times but survived assassination attempts.
Furthermore, he noted that “the Syrian regime has disposed of some of these leaders due to their exceeding the extensive authorities granted to them.”