Government forces complete 5th settlement process in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, the Syrian government forces opened the fifth settlement center in Daraa city, southern Syria. Such centers offer Syrians wanted for the government’s state security branches a way to settle their status.
An exclusive source told North Press that the government forces will open a settlement center in Qasr al-Houriat hall, in al-Kashif neighborhood, in Daraa al-Mahatta.
The source added that the settlement is for those who evaded the country’s compulsory military service and reserve service in the government army.
Government forces will give those who defected from the army one month to return to positions, while those who failed to enlist in the reserve service will be given six months to join, the source added.
Seventeen people from the town of al-Naimah, in the eastern countryside of Daraa, are wanted for state security; most of them belonged to the Eighth Brigade of the Russia-backed Fifth Corps, the source noted.
The source indicated that the wanted members of the Eighth Brigade will hand over the weapons they received when they enlisted.
The fifth settlement was launched on May 16, when the status of 25 people was settled and a number of weapons were handed over.
Government forces completed the fourth settlement in April of 2022, which lasted for two days, and was overseen by officers from the Russian Military Police (MP). The first and the largest such center was opened in September 2018.
In July 2018, opposition factions and Syrian government forces reached an agreement, mediated by Russia, regarding the opposition-held areas of Daraa.
According to the deal, opposition militants who agreed to hand over heavy weapons, were handed special cards to protect them from prosecution, and allowed them to stay in Daraa. Those opposed to the agreement were forced to leave for Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front).