Ex-Member of Opposition killed in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, an ex-member in the Syrian opposition factions was killed by unidentified gunmen in the western countryside of Daraa, a governorate south Syria.
A local source told North Press that Khaled al-Taani was shot dead by armed individuals riding a motorcycle in the town of Sahem al-Golan in Daraa countryside.
Al-Taani had joined opposition factions after defecting from Syrian government forces a year after protests broke out in the governorate in 2011, the source added.
In July 2018, opposition factions and Syrian government forces reached an agreement, mediated by Russia, for the opposition-held areas of Daraa. According to the deal, opposition militants who agreed to hand over heavy weapons, were handed special cards to protect them from prosecution, and allowed to stay in Daraa. Those opposed to the agreement were forced to leave for Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front).
The victim had obtained a settlement card after government forces entered Daraa in 2018 and had not joined military forces affiliated with the Syrian army, according to the source.
Last week, Daraa and its countryside witnessed sporadic attacks by unknown gunmen leading to the death of four people in various areas of the Governorate.
On Feb. 17, a government soldier was killed by unknown attackers in the city of al-Sanamayn in the northern countryside of Daraa.