Security chaos continues, six killed in week in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – The city of Daraa and its southern countryside, south Syria, witnessed continuation of killing operations amid a state of security chaos, recording six cases of killing, including soldiers and officers of the Syrian government forces, in different areas in one week, one of which was claimed by Islamic State (ISIS).
On Thursday, a local source told North Press that “Wasim Mousa al-Ghazali,” a policeman affiliated with the government forces, was killed by unknown people riding a motorcycle in front of his house in the town of Karfa, in the central countryside of Daraa.
ISIS-run Amaq news agency said, in a statement, that its militants targeted al-Ghazali, killing him immediately.
On the same day, local sources told North Press that “Moaawiya Elias al-Hashish,” a former member in the 4th Armored Vehicle of the government forces was shot dead by unknown attackers near his house in the village of Tel Shihab west of Daraa.
The sources added that “al-Hashish” was a former member of the Syrian opposition and he had his condition settled after the entry of the government forces to Daraa in 2018, then he joined the 4th Armored Division before quitting the work.
Al-Hashish was accused of drugs trading in the region, according to the source.
On that same day, eyewitnesses told North Press “Ammar Muhammad al-Falah” so-called Ammar al-Qaboni was shot dead by unknown attackers in the city of al-Sanamayn in the northern countryside of Daraa.
The eyewitnesses said that the attackers, who were riding a motorbike, directly fired on al-Falah, killing him immediately.
Al-Falah, who was a leader of an armed group of the government Military Security Branch, was accused of handing over a number of the people of the city to government security brunches.
On March 5, Hussein al-Mehamid, affiliated with the Eighth Legion of the Russian-backed Fifth Corps, was targeted by unknown attackers, who were riding a motorbike in the vicinity of the town of al-Kiheel, in the eastern countryside of Daraa.
He sustained serious injuries, as he was transported to a hospital in the town of Busra al-Sham where he died, according to the source.
Al-Mehamid is a former member of the Syrian opposition and was subjected to the settlement process under Russia’s sponsorship, the source added.
A local source told North Press that the young man, Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, was killed on March 5, while Omran al-Kurdi was injured due to targeting them by unidentified people who were riding a motorcycle in the town of al-Mesefra, in the eastern countryside of Daraa.
Al-Zu’bi died immediately, while al-Kurdi was transported to a hospital in the area, according to the source.
The young men are former militants of the opposition factions and subjected to the settlement process under Russia’s sponsorship, the source added.
On March 4, local sources told North Press that the media activist, Ahmad Fa’our al-Hussein, aka Abu Yasin al-Saadi, was directly shot dead by unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle on the outskirts of the town of Muzayrib in the western countryside of Daraa.
The 18 March local website released a statement mourning its staff member al-Hussein and demanded NGOs and media bodies protect journalists and media activists in Daraa.
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 July 2018, the opposition armed faction and the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa. Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their heavy weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those oppose the agreement would go to Idlib, which is under the control of the HTS.