One man killed in clashes amid security unrest in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – A young man was killed on Sunday evening in the eastern countryside of Daraa as a result of clashes between two armed groups amid a state of security chaos.
Local sources told North Press that Muhammad al-Hariri was killed in clashes between the Eighth Brigade, affiliated with the military intelligence of government forces, and the Fayez al-Radi group, which is accused of selling drugs in the region, according to sources.
The clashes erupted after the al-Radi group attacked the headquarters of the Eighth Brigade located between the towns of Saida and Tibah in the eastern countryside of Daraa, the source added.
The attack came in response to arresting one member of the al-Radi group in Saida on March 4.
The Eighth Brigade was established on the ruins of the Shabab al-Sunna faction headed by Ahmad al-Awda of the Syrian opposition during its control of southern Syria.
The Eighth Brigade has been assigned by Russia for several missions over the past years, the first of which was in Yarmouk Basin area and hunting down the remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS).
Sources close to the Eighth Brigade told North Press that the command of the Brigade “issued orders to attack drug dealing groups.”
The sources added that locations of people dealing with drugs would be raided in Saida, Tibah, and Umm al-Mayathin in the eastern countryside of Daraa.
Exclusive field sources said that groups of the Eighth Brigade headed on Monday to the town of Umm al-Mayathin and clashed with an armed group, without further details of the outcome.
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).
Since the settlement agreement in Daraa, there has been unstable security amid constant assassinations. The region in southern Syria has witnessed a flourishing drug business and increasing ISIS sleeper cells’ activity.