DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Recently much talk is being said about forming a unified army in the Syrian south composed of 30.000 fighters from local factions from Suwayda, Daraa and Quneitra.
Since summer of 2018, a new political reality was imposed in south Syria. It was commenced with an Iranian extension and anarchy represented in increased cases of abduction, robbery and wide spread of drugs in Suwayda.
In return, Daraa underwent military tension amid settlements that with the passage of time proved to be a failure. The situation in Daraa seemed to explode at any time.
However, prospects of special solutions seemed to emerge in the south not related to the Syrian government due to its people rejection of the Iranian hegemony and culture. These solutions, the last of which was forming a unified army in the south, have remained debatable.
The reality of a unified army
Russia- Ukraine war in late February had repercussions at the Jordanian border that created a chance for Iran and its allies to position there.
The Iranian presence led to rapid developments in smuggling “Captagon” and arms. This urged people of the south to repel the Iranian expansion via forming factions in Suwayda and Daraa.
On the regard of establishing a unified army in the south to stand up to the Iranian expansion, a military commander of the Anti- Terror Force, a military faction in Suwayda, told North Press the idea of creating a unified army has not been proposed yet, rejecting it could be the force to which his groups belong.
The military leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, affirmed coordination between factions in Suwayda and Daraa to stand up to the Iranian expansion in the south, “unity of stance between neighbors is a priority.”
The leader revealed information he obtained, “Assassinations are planned to target leaders of the local factions that seek to stands up to the Iranian extension in Suwayda.”
He said, “Standing up to the Iranian extension has become an obligation after Iran spreaded anarchy and economic depression in south Syria.”
Most importantly, according to the source, is “Bids by Iran to turn the south into a hotbed for drugs to be spread in schools, adopting a systematic policy with the aim to target the youth in Daraa and Suwayda.”
The local leader stressed people of the south seek with all possible capabilities to stand up to this penetration by Iran, “to preserve the identity and culture of the south.”
The leader added, “They sought to exploit poverty to recruit the young men in armed groups affiliated to security branches in turn for alluring salaries, and controlling them by giving them drug pills for free.”
“People in the south, in Suwayda specifically, comprehended the dangers implied in the Iranian extension. They decided to stand up which is embodied in the July 26 movement,” he said.
Offices of the armed groups affiliated with the Military Intelligence Branch of the government forces were seized, “this is a clear indication to the shift in dealing with Iranian extension.”
He stressed the need for showing an international will to stand up to the Iranian extension in the south, and for the neighboring countries to deal “firmly” with this “Cultural invasion and not to allow the region and neighboring countries be flooded with drugs.”
Shared fate
The Syrian south has been Iran’s first ever goal since the Syrian war began in 2011.
Since that date, Iran has always sought to control border areas with both Iraq and Jordan to safeguard its moves on the ground coming from Iran across the Jordanian border that is the shield to protect the Gulf.
Though the proposal of establishing a unified army for the south is seen as a salvation for the people in the south against the Iranian extension, Abdurrazzaq al-Mihayya, head of the Media Office of the Maghaweir al-Thowra, told North Press, “Reports of creating a military formation in the Syrian south with Maghaweir al-Thowra part of it are untrue.”
The Jordan-based Syrian defected Major-General Munir al-Hariri told North Press the project of forming the army is an “old one.” It was proposed as a 35km safe zone on the Syrian border.
Al-Hariri added the leakage days ago is a “Big project that covers the whole south,” it extends from Quneitra in the west up to al-Tanf in the east including Daraa and Suwayda.”
The project “has not been discussed or put under the scope except by either individuals or countries,” al-Hariri affirmed.
Taking the pulse
The situation in Daraa is not different from that in Suwayda. People in Daraa continue to look for solutions, rejecting the imposed ones via protests and by trying to present the issue of the Syrian south independently.
A leader in an armed faction, operating in western countryside of Daraa, who refused his identity be revealed, considered such leaks in the last few days is “taking the pulse of the people to adopt the idea.”
“Actually, there is nothing on the ground in this relation, no body contacted them, neither coalition nor opposition,” he told North Press.
He added, affirming they are ready to be engaged in any formation that “Works to stand up to the Iranian project,” that has been expanding in the south along the border with Jordan and Israel.
The defected Major-General Muhammad Al-haj Ali denied that he had any information on the idea.
Amid this uncertainty of the affair, expectations master the situation amidst political views and public assurances that the coming days will be different in the Syrian south.
International position
Although Russia made pledges to Syria’s neighboring countries especially Jordan and Israel to distance Iran and its affiliated militias in the south, however it did not meet its pledges.
General Amir Baram former commander of the Israeli Defense Forces, Northern Command, after he handed over his duties, said Israel is engaged in a silent war to curb Iranian aspirations in the region.
In an interview with Channel 13 TV, he said Israel will not allow the Syrian south to become a second Lebanese south.
Baram considered Syria gives a space to many actors, adding that they will continue their policies, when there is talk about a time- ticking bombing that could hurt and damage them, “We will remove it in advance, we will not wait,” in an indication to the strikes carried out by Israel against Iranian targets in Syria.
Jordan is one of the most affected countries by the Iranian presence on its northern border. It leads a war against drug dealers and pro-Iranian militias, Mustafa al-Hiyari, a Jordanian colonel and director of military media in the army, put it.
In an interview with state-run TV channel Al-Mamlaka late in May, al-Hiyari said the most dangerous organizations in the Syrian south on the border with Jordan are Iranians. They behave under external directives and target Jordan’s national security.