Syrian army to launch operation against Daraa rebels

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After dislodging the rebels from the capital Damascus, the Syrian army's next military operation will be in the southern province of Daraa, activists and a military expert said on Friday.

While military reinforcements were sent to southern Syria, the Syrian air force dropped leaflets on rebel-held areas in Daraa on Friday, urging militants to lay down their weapons.

Ali Maksoud, a retired military officer, said that the reinforcements and the dropping of leaflets indicate that all preparations for launching the next military operation in Daraa have been completed.

This development comes soon after the Syrian army dislodged rebels from regions surrounding Damascus, including the Eastern Ghouta countryside, the northern Qalamoun region and the formerly ISIL held areas to the south.

Syrian army soldiers stand among the rubble of damage buildings in al-Hajar al-Aswad, Syria, May 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

Daraa is so important as it's located near the Jordanian border and is 100km from the capital.

"After liberating southern Damascus, forces have been sent to southern Syria to push the rebels in the western countryside of Daraa to lay down their weapons and embark on reconciliation with the Syrian government before the commencement of the military operations there," Maksoud added.

He noted that a state of confusion prevails among the various rebel groups in Daraa, mainly between the Khaled Bin al-Walid group and the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Maksoud noted that Khaled Bin al-Walid group has pledged alliance with ISIL.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian helicopters dropped the leaflets in tandem with the movement of Syrian forces toward Daraa, noting that maneuver was agreed upon with the Russians.

The leaflets included photos of slain militants with a message reading "don't be like those... this is the ultimate end to all those who insist on holding arms... leave your weapons before it's too late."

Other leaflets read: "You have two choices: Either to die or leave your weapons, because the Syrian army men are coming so make your decision before it's too late."

The leaflets also urged the people of Daraa to help the Syrian army to dislodge the "terrorists."

The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said the Syrian forces started moving toward Daraa under the supervision of Russian experts and without the participation of the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

The UK-based watchdog group said, if the rebels there refused to surrender, this development will lead to a wide-scale military offensive in Daraa.

Meanwhile, activists said that rebel commanders have held meetings with foreign security apparatuses in Jordan to discuss the next move in Daraa.

Daraa was the birthplace of Syria's seven-year-long crisis, with the armed insurgency beginning here first as anti-government protests.

The Syrian military move comes after the army secured vital and key areas across the country, including in the capital Damascus.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency