Armed group kills 3 government intelligence members in Syria’s Daraa

DARAA, Syria (North Press) – A local armed group killed on Friday three intelligence members of the Syrian government and injured others in Daraa Governorate, southern Syria.  

A local source said that a local armed group raided a house in Daraa al-Balad neighborhood  in the city of Daraa where Muhammad Youssef al-Masalmeh, also known as Abu Dawla, a collaborator with the military intelligence branch of the government forces, was hiding.  

The raid led to clashes between the group and al-Masalmeh, who was eventually killed inside the house with RPG shells.

The raid was reportedly in retaliation for the killing of one of the group’s members a day earlier in an IED explosion in Sajna neighborhood, which al-Masalmeh was accused of planting.  

In a separate incident, unknown gunmen shot to death Anas Yahya al-Hariri, leader of a local group in the town of Dael who was working for the government’s central committee.

The source added that al-Hariri had previously fought with armed opposition forces and received a reconciliation card in July 2018. He later led a group collaborating with government officers in the area. 

Additionally, unidentified gunmen opened fire on Muhammad Youssef Abu al-Housh, Qassem al-Zo’bi, and Hatem al-Halabi in the town of Eastern Ghariyah, east of Daraa, who were former militants of the opposition factions, according to the source. 

The incident resulted in the killing of Muhammad Youssef Abu al-Housh and the injury of Qassem al-Zo’bi and Hatem al-Halabi.

The source pointed out that the three targeted individuals were later turned to drug trafficking following the 2018 reconciliation agreement between the opposition factions and the government.   

By Mo’ayed al-Ashqar