Russian, government forces enter Syria’s Daraa, new displacement convoy heads north
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday afternoon, the Russian Military Police (MP) and members of the Eighth Brigade of the Fifth Corps entered the besieged neighborhoods in the city of Daraa, southern Syria, after more than two months of bombing by government forces and pro-Iranian factions and restricting the entry of basic foodstuffs.
With news rumors circulating today that the government will open the “settlement” tomorrow, according to previous conditions, an evening demonstration was held in the city of Tafas in the western countryside of Daraa, in solidarity with the residents of Daraa al-Balad region.
Local sources told North Press that the Russian MP had established an observation point in the al-Bahar neighborhood on the southern outskirts of Daraa al-Balad in order to supervise the implementation of the ceasefire.
They added that the government forces opened the Saraya military checkpoint that connects Daraa al-Balad and the besieged neighborhoods on one side and the city center on the other for a short period, but they again prevented entry and exit from these neighborhoods.
An eyewitness said that a number of buses left towards the Syrian north carrying families from Daraa al-Balad, the Tariq al-Sadd neighborhood and the camps, which the government forces had demanded to leave since they refused the settlement.
For 63 days, the residents of the besieged neighborhoods have been living under government bombardment, which has resulted in victims, and a siege that has led to a shortage of food and basic supplies.
Last week, the publication of a leaked copy of the provisions of a roadmap that the Central Committee in Daraa received from the Russian delegation sparked popular discontent and demonstrations in Daraa.
The roadmap of the Russian solution in Daraa al-Balad included “the removal of the militants to Idlib, forcing them to surrender their weapons, restoring the work of the executing agencies of the authority to Daraa, handing over wanted persons who have not settled their situation, and settling the conditions of dissidents and those who failed to perform compulsory and reserve service.”