In Syria, government and Russian forces have relaunched a joint offensive in the southern province of Daraa. Reports say they carried out around 600 air strikes in the area. This comes after negotiations with rebels collapsed. Damascus has managed to retake much of the province over the past couple of weeks. It now looks to seize one of the rebels' last remaining strongholds. Our Alaa Ebrahim reports from Daraa.

In southern Syria, the lengthy civil war continues to rage for government forces and their allies.

ALAA EBRAHIM DARAA "A Syrian military operation to recapture all of the southern provinces of the country is causing a lot of controversy as it is taking place in the de-escalation zone that was negotiated by the US, Russia and Jordan last year. Regardless the Syrian government backed by Russian air forces launched an offensive aiming to clear all the south of any rebel presence."

To retake Dara'a province, Syria and Russia are using a combination of brutal force and negotiations to convince rebel factions to turn their attention away from the Syrian army and onto radical groups like Nusra front, whom the rebels fought side-by-side with for many years.

The results of this approach are plain to see, in the command of the Syrian army's 5th armored division, where the military is stockpiling weapons and ammunition that rebels either surrendered or lost. And the inventory is impressive: guided anti-armored missiles, millions of bullets and even tanks.

GENERAL SAMER 5th ARMORED DIVISION, SYRIAN ARMY "We are offering militants a safe way out if they surrender their heavy weapons and agree to join our fight against terrorist groups. We have made large gains over the past few hours, to control more than 60 percent of Dara'a province and we will keep pressing until we recapture it completely."

And the army says its efforts to oust the rebels have been going down well with the local community. Here, in Da'el town, residents have been living in fear for many years, but they believe they are finally seeing signs of change.

"My utmost desire is to see my house again. I haven't been able to come here for the past seven years. The militants threatened me and now I have entered the town for the first time in years."

Over the past two weeks, the Syrian army has retaken 27 towns through negotiations while it also took five by force after the rebels failed to meet a deadline. The army distributed footage of its coercive and destructive methods, sending a clear message that there would be no turning back.

When the Syrian army regains full control of Daraa province, it would mean not just a major military gain, but it would be a heavy psychological blow for the rebels, as they would lose control of the birthplace of their insurgency against President Bashar Al-Assad. Alaa Ebrahim, CGTN, Daraa.