Syrian Hezbollah militant found dead in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, locals found the body of a militant affiliated with the Lebanese Hezbollah militias in the countryside of Daraa, south Syria.
Local sources told North Press that the locals found the body of “Muhammad Youssef al-Mazawi” with gunshot wounds near the town of Dael in the central countryside of Daraa.
The sources added that al-Mazawi is “a Shiite who hails from the city of Busra al-Sham in eastern Daraa and a militant of the Lebanese Hezbollah.”
Al-Mazawi had joined ranks of forces that fought against opposition factions when they attempted to control Busra al-Sham in March 2015.
He escaped like all Shiite people in the city after the opposition took control after a week-long battle.
It is not clear how he arrived in Daraa and was killed.
Busra al-Sham used to be inhabited by dozens of Shia families before protests erupted against the Syrian government in 2011. They all left with the government forces that withdrew after the opposition took control.
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.