Fifth individual killed in clashes between ISIS, local groups in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, a fifth individual killed in clashes between local armed men and militants of the Islamic State Organization (ISIS) in the town of Jasim in the northern countryside of Daraa, south Syria.
Local sources told North Press, “Motaz Turki al-Bardan was killed in an armed clash with ISIS militants.”
The sources added, “Al-Bardan hails from the city of Tafas, and he is a local armed man affiliated with the Central Committee in the western area.”
Clashes are still continuing after the ISIS militants have fortified in a house in the northern neighborhood in the village of Jasim, refusing to surrender, according to the sources.
Local armed men from different cities and towns in Daraa and military groups affiliated with the Eighth Brigade of the Russian-backed Fifth Corps arrived in the town to support the local armed men, according to the sources.
Earlier on Friday, the local armed men in Jasim announced a curfew and initiated storming individuals accused of belonging to ISIS, who are accused of kidnapping and killing former members of the Syrian opposition.
Syrian government forces stationed in the town and its outskirts did not move or support the local armed men though they (government forces) threatened to storm the town in search of the ISIS militants.
On Friday, four individuals, including two ISIS militants, were killed in Jasim in the persistent clashes.
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.
In 2021, Daraa Governorate went through an 80-day-seige. After that, a number of Daraa’s notables and government forces, with mediation of Russian officers, reached a ceasefire agreement on September 5, 2021, including handing over weapons and deploying governmental security posts in the towns of the governorate.