3 government soldiers wounded in IED blast in Syria’s Daraa

DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Unidentified gunmen attacked on Thursday a military vehicle of the Syrian government forces with an IED, injuring two soldiers and their officer, in the countryside of Daraa, southern Syria.

A military source within the government forces told North Press, “Noncommissioned officer, Qaher Abu Hamza, was severely wounded in the face and chest, whereas the other two soldiers sustained medium injuries when an IED planted by unidentified gunmen detonated in their vehicle in the village of Ain Thakar in the northwest of Daraa.”   

The source added they were taken to the National Hospital of Daraa. The officer was later taken to a hospital in Damascus due to his severe injuries.  

“The officer Abu Hamza heads the Military Security branch of the government forces in the town of Shajarah in the west of Daraa,” the source noted.

After the government forces entered Daraa Governorate in 2018, dozens of officers and soldiers were killed by unidentified individuals.

In July 2018, the opposition armed factions 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 weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those who opposed the agreement were deported to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front).

The source also added that Abu Hamza was assigned almost two months ago. He had met with the notables of the area and requested the people to cooperate with their forces and threatened to arrest whosoever attacks the government forces.

By Mo’ayed al-Ashqar