Government soldier killed in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – A soldier of the Syrian government forces was shot dead on Wednesday by unidentified gunmen, in the eastern countryside of Daraa, southern Syria.
A local source told North Press that Jalal al-Zoubi, nicknamed Jalal al-Farim, was shot and killed by unknown attackers riding motorcycles while he was on the main road in the town of al-Musayfrah in the eastern countryside of Daraa.
Al-Zoubi was a member of an armed group affiliated with the government Air Gorce Intelligence Branch, the source said.
Prior to joining the government’s ranks, al-Zoubi was a member of the Syrian armed opposition factions, the source added, noting that al-Zoubi engaged in the government forces after gaining a settlement card in July 2018.
In July 2018, the opposition factions and government forces reached a settlement agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa Governorate. Under the deal, the opposition militants who agreed to hand over their heavy weapons were handed a settlement card and allowed to stay in Daraa, while those opposed the agreement would go to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Since the government forces re-captured Daraa in 2018, the governorate has been living in a state of insecurity, with one or two daily assassinations targeting soldiers and officers of the government forces, not to mention the spread of thefts.
On Monday, a soldier of the government forces was killed and three others were injured after an IED exploded with their vehicle in the town of al-Muzayrib, west of Daraa.