DARAA/SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – What distinguishes southern Syria is that it is a geopolitical area that makes it a battleground for competing powers. The struggle between people in the south and the Syrian government and its allies prevails on the stage.
Ali Azzam, a pseudonym for a resident of the western countryside of Daraa, told North Press that the Air Defense and the Military Intelligence of the Syria government forces control Daraa, as they have one purpose which is “imposing taxes and making money out of finances and drug trading.”
What have the authorities achieved?
Based on this, debate poses itself about what have the government authorities provided in the south.
The journalist Hafez Karkout told North Press that any ruling authority is defined as this “that provides services, including security for citizens.”
The government authorities undergo an overall security collapse owing to security hegemony besides it is unable to secure any kinds of services, Karkout said.
The journalist explained that the collapse is a result of turning the authority into “a hotbed for corruption that prevails the situation.”
All these factors have made the Syrian government a frail one in the south, as it cannot provide anything to the locals. There has been a rift between the government and the population, even those who used to be supporters, he added.
The situation on the ground
Settlements that were initiated by the government in the south were rejected by the population and signified the continuation of protests. This implies a total popular rejection of the presence of government forces in the area.
Karkout said, “Ostensibly what takes place in Daraa is settlements but in reality, the opposition factions control large areas in the governorate.”
The rejection by nearly 30.000 young men in Suwayda to join the compulsory service was a blatant signal that they do not accept the presence of the government in the governorate.
Karkout added that the Syrian authorities could not allure youths in Suwayda to join its army “although it spared no efforts whether by pensioned officers, men of religion or notables and leaders in Baath Party.”
He pointed out that repeated bids were taken by Russians to reach a mechanism by which youths could join the compulsory service in their areas or near Suwayda. However, “They did not meet success.”
“Morale pressure emanating from the south on the regime is a mass one, and that the message by Suwayda to the public opinion was an echoing one and affirms that people still attached to its goals in dethroning the regime,” Karkout noted.
“There is no real presence of the authorities in southern Syria. Only a few security branches and affiliated gangs,” he claimed.
Is the situation stable?
From his part, Ahmad Hamada, a military expert, told North Press that the south was considered a de-escalation zone. However, “After the opposition was let down by its allies in that area they were compelled to either leave to the north of the country or lay down their heavy weapons aside.”
“Such a degrading agreement was not an appeasing one for opponents of the Syrian regime in that area,” he said.
Hamada indicated that the Syrian government which has been controlling Syrians for more than 50 years “has breached these agreements time and again under Russian surveillance. At least 400 deserted commissioned and non-commissioned officers and men have been arrested, 48 of which lost their lives in jails run by the regime.”
According to Hamada, the situation in the south remains unstable and these agreements are fragile, “There is an escalation in Daraa al-Balad, Tafas, Wadi Yarmouk, Jassem, and others,” Hamada added.
The military expert said, “Control of the regime is a nominal one, revolutions still inspire many even if there is the Fourth Armored Division, Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Military Security Branch.”
Hamada indicated that Suwayda was among the first areas to revolt with a “lesser degree, they did not take arms. There was a kind of civil demand not to serve in the army and that the latter should not enter the city and not return to the pre-2011 status.”
While ostensibly the recent events in the governorate “Asked for the improvement of living conditions, however, the main reason behind that is the call for a regime change,” he noted.
The military expert emphasized the “Syrian regime is unable to face the locals, for this reason, it adopted agreements with several local factions depending on Iranian-backed militias and Shabiha. Nonetheless, the regime is still fearful of a second revolt or a popular one that could be embraced by the Syrian community.”