Daraa tribes condemn Syrian government, urge reconciliation prioritization
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – The tribes of Daraa Governorate, southern Syria, issued a statement on Wednesday, condemning the actions of the Syrian government and its security forces against the residents of Daraa.
The tribes of Daraa and its countryside emphasized the critical need for the government to prioritize the reconciliation process and effectively implement the agreed-upon measures, considering the prevailing security and economic conditions in Syria, particularly in the southern region of Hauran, the statement added.
The statement noted that instead of ensuring the smooth progress of the settlement process, certain groups affiliated with the government have prioritized security demands. They have escalated arbitrary arrests, enforced security reservations, and targeted individuals accused of acts committed over a decade ago.
The statement further explained that these arbitrary arrests are justified under the pretext of decisions issued by the terrorism court and the military field courts, according to the statement.
The tribes warned that such actions could undermine the reconciliation process, leading to more chaos, tension, and escalation of the situation, with potential for counter-reactions.
Since the government forces re-captured Daraa in line with the 2018 agreement, the governorate has been living in a state of security chaos, with one or two daily assassinations targeting soldiers and officers of the government forces, not to mention the spread of thefts.
In July 2018, the opposition armed groups and the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa. Under the deal, the opposition armed groups agreed to hand over their heavy weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those oppose the agreement would go to Idlib, which is under the control of the HTS.
The tribes’ statement concluded with a call to the government to uphold the provisions of the settlement agreement, release all arbitrarily detained individuals, and revoke all security claims and reservations against the residents.