8 people died in Syria’s Daraa in two days
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Eight people were killed in various areas in Daraa Governorate, south Syria, in less than two days including an officer and five soldiers of the Syrian government forces.
On Wednesday morning, local sources told North Press that a defector from the Syrian government forces was killed in the town of Tafas in the western countryside of Daraa.
Basel Mashhoor al-Rifa’i was killed by unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle on the main road of the town while he was heading to the Farmers’ Market, the sources added.
Al-Rifa’i was taken to the National Hospital in Tafas and passed away there, according to the sources.
“Al-Rif’ai defected from the government forces and fought with the Syrian opposition factions until a settlement agreement was reached in the summer of 2018 and had not joined any military or security forces since then,” the sources added.
In July 2018, the Syrian armed opposition factions and Syrian government forces reached a settlement agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa Governorate. Under the deal, the opposition militants who agreed to hand over their heavy weapons were handed a settlement card and allowed to stay in Daraa, while those opposed the agreement would go to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front).
In recent hours, six soldiers of the government forces were killed, including an officer called Muhammad Ahmad Mustafa, who hails from the village of al-Mushrafa in Hama Governorate.
Also, Amer Hamidosh, a police officer, was killed on Tuesday during clashes with an unidentified armed group.
Another local source said that Muhammad Aziz al-Janadi was killed by unidentified gunmen in the city of Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa.