Government forces withdraw from military posts in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian government forces withdrew on Sunday from military positions in Daraa countryside, southern Syria, following clashes with local armed groups in the area.
A source from the local armed groups told North Press that members of the Air Force Intelligence branch abandoned a military checkpoint located between Dael and Abtaa in the north of Daraa. This withdrawal occurred approximately two hours after the checkpoint was attacked by armed locals from Dael.
The source further added that another Air Force Intelligence checkpoint near Kherbet Ghazala in the eastern countryside of Daraa was attacked, leading to clashes that left several government soldiers dead and others wounded.
In the north of Daraa, local armed militants from the town of Inkhil targeted a Military Security branch outpost using medium weapons. The attack was in retaliation for the suppression of a demonstration in Inkhil that called for “the fall of the regime” and expressed solidarity with the military offensive in Aleppo and Hama.
Meanwhile, the government forces bolstered their presence in central Daraa city with dozens of reinforcements, anticipating possible unrest or military escalations.
Meanwhile, the local website “Horan Free League” reported that the government forces have launched artillery strikes on the town of Salmin in northern Daraa.
Since Nov. 26, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, once known as the al-Nusra Front) and Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), have seized control of most of Aleppo and claimed to have advanced into Hama.
Government and Russian forces have retreated from several strategic positions, enabling HTS and SNA factions to expand their influence.