DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Since the control by the Syrian government forces of Daraa in southern Syria in the summer of 2018, the governorate has been witnessing disorder and security chaos which have gradually increased because the settlement agreement has not been implemented.
In July 2018, the opposition armed faction and government forces reached a ceasefire agreement – later known as the settlement agreement – mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa Governorate. Under the deal, the militants of the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their heavy weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, while those who opposed the agreement would be sent 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 line with the 2018 agreement, the governorate has been living in a state of security chaos, with one or two daily assassinations targeting soldiers and officers of the government forces, not to mention the spread of thefts.
In addition to the security chaos, the assaults carried out by the security branches of the government forces, the economic collapse, and the high rates of unemployment, have exacerbated the situation.
All the above-mentioned factors have contributed to the protests that erupted in different places in Daraa.
Last week, Daraa witnessed protests in different places of the Governorate. The protestors demanded releasing the detainees, toppling of the “regime”, and stopping the acts carried out by the Iranian-backed militias against residents.
The last-week protests resulted in the killing of 13 persons, including six soldiers of the government forces.
Observers see the disorders are a response to the violations committed by the government forces that deploy to the vicinities of the towns and villages of the governorate. The forces carry out arbitrary arrests against civilians.
They believe the security services are responsible for the security chaos as they refused the protestors’ demands.
After four years of imposing the settlement agreement, Daraa has not witnessed any stability and the security forces keep using bullets when dealing with protestors. However, this is main the reason for the continuation of the Syrian government to keep adopting the military solution in Daraa Governorate.
The settlement agreements could not create a stable situation due to the policy of the government that has not complied with the agreement it signed, according to analysts.
The agreement stipulated that the government forces should not storm or besiege the cities and towns of Daraa. However, the arresting, shooting and besieging are still continuing.
Russia, which sponsored the agreement, has withdrawn several of its military posts in the western countryside of Daraa. Meanwhile, the Iranians have strengthened their influence contrary to the articles of the agreement which included the removal of the Iranian militias 80 km away from the Syrian-Jordanian borders.
Analysts see the peaceful protests which demand “toppling the al-Assad regime” and providing the most basic necessities of life such as water, electricity, and bread will continue and there is no intention to stop them in the coming days.