Local leaders from Syria’s Suwayda demand withdrawal of Russian-backed forces from region
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Secret meetings took place between notables and local leaders from the governorates of Daraa and Suwayda recently to defuse the conflict over the presence of the Eighth Brigade of the Russian-backed Fifth Corps, stationed in the city of Basra Sham, from the western lands of Suwayda.
In October, sheikhs, notables, and leaders of local factions, most notably the independent Men of Dignity Druze militia, held a meeting at the Druze Leadership House in the town of Arra, southwest of the Druze-majority city of Suwayda.
During the meeting, they demanded the complete withdrawal of the Fifth Corps from the agricultural lands of the town of Qrayya.
The Russian-backed Fifth Corps is an alliance of five former Syrian rebel groups that was formed during the Syrian Civil War in September 2014. All five units were affiliated with the Free Syrian Army and used the Syrian independence flag as their symbol until reconciling with government forces.
A local source who attended the meeting stated that the meeting’s participants made threats to the commander of the Eighth Brigade, Ahmed al-Awda, and demanded his forces leave immediately and withdraw from the agricultural lands of the town of Qrayya.
The town of Qrayya, in the southern countryside of Suwayda, witnessed frequent clashes between Iranian-backed National Defense Forces affiliated with the Syrian government and the Russian-backed Fifth Corps, resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens of people.
A local source from the city of Busra al-Sham in the eastern countryside of Daraa close to the Eighth Brigade revealed on Tuesday that a meeting took place between notables and local leaders from the Daraa and Suwayda governorates in Busra al-Sham on Thursday, and it was not revealed for security reasons.
Busra al-Sham, in Daraa Governorate, is the major stronghold of the Eighth Brigade, where most of its military headquarters are located.
He added that notables and commanders from Busra al-Sham working within the Eighth Brigade have shown their willingness to withdraw from the agricultural lands which are administratively affiliated with Suwayda.
However, the withdrawal would come with conditions. First, the members of the Eighth Brigade, who are stationed three kilometers west of the town of Qrayya would be replaced by members of the Suwayda governorate, and those who do not belong to a faction funded by Iran and Hezbollah.
The agricultural lands of the town of Qrayya, in the southwest of Suwayda, extend three kilometers into the administrative lands of Daraa Governorate.
In mid-October, government forces established three observation points on the line separating the town of Qrayya in the southeastern countryside of Suwayda and the eastern administrative areas of Daraa governorate.
The source pointed out that the notables of Suwayda Governorate did not approve or reject the conditions provided by the Eighth Brigade, stressing the necessity for the members of the Eighth Brigade to withdraw from the territories without restrictions or conditions and end the bloodshed between the two parties.
The two negotiating parties stressed that the historical and civil relations between the governorates of Daraa and Suwayda are long-standing, and should not be affected by the kidnappings, murders, and looting by gangs who do not hold to societal customs and traditions.