Syrian army raises flag in birthplace of anti-gov’t protests

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The Syrian government raised the national flag over areas of Deraa city that have been in rebel hands for years on Thursday, in a major victory for President Bashar al-Assad in the birthplace of anti-government protests.

State television said the army hoisted the flag near the post office, the only government building in the portion of the city that had been held by rebels since the early days of the uprising that began there in 2011.

Government forces have recovered swathes of Deraa province in the last three weeks, advancing unopposed by Assad's Western and regional foes into the strategically vital region near Jordan and Israel.

It marks another milestone in Assad's efforts to recover control of Syria, where civil war is estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands of people and driven some 11 million people from their homes.

A Russian soldier is seen near the Nasib border crossing with Jordan in Deraa, July 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

The campaign in the southwest is now expected to target rebel-held enclaves at the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel signaled it would not impede the offensive, even as it struck Syrian army posts near the frontier in retaliation for a drone incursion.

With help from Russia and Iran, Assad has now recovered most of Syria. Anti-Assad rebels still control a chunk of the northwest, and the northeast and a large chunk of the east are controlled by Kurdish-led militia.

As Assad pursues military victory, there appears to be little hope of a negotiated peace which Western governments say is needed to bring stability and encourage refugees to return.

Recent hostilities in southern Syria have left over 210,000 people displaced and in need of urgent health services, with up to 160,000 displaced Syrians who are inaccessible to health partners at present, according to World Health Organization (WHO).

Internally displaced children from Deraa province run together near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in Quneitra, July 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

The WHO has called for the protection of health facilities and increased access to southern Syria.

Dr. Michel Thieren, the WHO's regional emergencies director, has vowed not to let down those who are waiting for humanitarian aid in Deraa and Quneitra areas.

Safe passage

Heavily outgunned, rebels in parts of Deraa province reached an agreement to surrender territory last week. In Deraa city, rebels are still in talks with Russian officers to secure a safe passage out, rebel officials said.

A Syrian rebel carries his machine gun during battles with pro-government fighters in western Daraa province, July 10, 2018. /VCG Photo

A senior Russian military delegation entered the rebel-held area of the city on Thursday and began negotiations over its handover to state rule, rebel officials and a witness said.

A rebel official told Reuters negotiations were proceeding smoothly, with the Russians so far abiding by the terms of the deal, under which rebels would hand over weapons, and fighters who do not wish to live under government rule would be evacuated.

"Everyone is committed to the agreements," said rebel official Abu Jihad, adding rebels had already begun since late Wednesday handing over their heavy weapons.

Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency