Casualties in Suicide attack in Syria’s Daraa

DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Several people were killed while others were injured after a suicide bomber blew himself up Friday night at the house of a former leader of the Syrian opposition in Daraa city, south Syria.

A local source told North Press, “The suicide bomber entered the house of Ghasan Akram al-Abazid and blew himself up, killing and wounding several people.”

The source added, “In addition to the suicide bomber, each of Malik Sami al-Abazid, Ahmed Fandi al-Abazid and Yaseen al-Falouji were killed in the explosion.”

The source said, “Ghassan Abazid was transferred to the National Hospital of Daraa city with two other people, and their condition was described as very serious.”

“Al-Abazid worked as a leader for one of the Syrian opposition factions. He later joined the 2018 Russian-mediated settlement agreement, and did not engage with any military or security body ever since,” the source noted.

In July 2018, the Syrian opposition armed 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, formerly al-Nusra Front).

Since the government forces re-captured Daraa in 2018, the governorate has been living in a state of insecurity, with daily assassinations targeting civilians, and members of the government forces, not to mention the spread of thefts.

Reporting by Ihsan Muhammad