Public demonstrations took place in the town of Tafas in rural Daraa against the Syrian regime during the funeral procession of Waseem Abdullah al-Rawashdeh.

Al-Rawashdeh, a former commander in the Free Syrian Army (FSA), was assassinated by unidentified gunmen.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Daraa reported that on Thursday, 28 November, dozens of people were demonstrating in the funeral procession of al-Rawashdeh. They chanted slogans, calling for the overthrow of the Syrian regime and the departure of Iranian militias from the region.

The correspondent added that the demonstrators displayed banners against the Syrian regime and the Iranian presence in Daraa, blaming regime forces for the killing of the leader, al-Rawashdeh and repeated assassinations. The demonstrators were also condemning the deteriorating security and economic conditions in the province.

Furthermore, the demonstrators expelled a Russian patrol that was nearby, according to the correspondent.

Many demonstrators, according to Enab Baladi’s correspondent and pictures published by local networks on Facebook, were waving the Syrian Revolution Flag and carrying banners that read “Houran did not and will not succumb and there will come a day when Houran has a final say.”

The former commander of the FSA, Waseem Abdullah al-Rawashdeh, from Tafas town in the countryside of Daraa, was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in front of his home by unknown persons, in conjunction with a series of assassinations that targeted figures within the ranks of Syrian regime, according to Enab Baladi’s correspondent and local networks.

There were scenes of insecurity and chaos across the province of Daraa over the past month as attacks were being held on the military headquarters of Syrian regime and its security apparatus.

Moreover, there were daily attempted assassinations of figures accused of dealing with the Syrian regime and former figures within the opposition factions, in light of the security failure to control the exacerbating situation prevailing in the region.

No party has claimed responsibility for the assassinations until now. Furthermore, the Syrian regime made no comment on the increasing cases of assassination by unknown persons in Daraa. The Security apparatus of the Syrian regime is being accused of assassinating former leading figures and elements in the opposition factions.

The Russia-backed Syrian regime forces regained control over the provinces of Daraa and Quneitra in July 2018 through the so-called settlement agreement. The opposition was forced to sign this agreement and leave for northern Syria after days of bombardment and military reinforcements.

Since signing that agreement, there have been increasing cases of assassinations by unknown gunmen in the area. These assassinations have intensified in recent months, in light of the security failure to reduce chaos and assassinations that the regime is accused of being behind.

The Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office (DMDO) recorded in October, 38 assassinations and assassination attempts, which killed 21 people and wounded 14 others, while just three people survived the assassination attempts.

According to DMDO, among the dead, there were 12 fighters, who were previously in the opposition factions, while nine of them joined the ranks of the regime forces after the Syrian regime took control of the region in July 2018.