The Central Committee and the Syrian regime in Daraa province have finalized an agreement in the presence of a Russian delegation, which might put a limit to the rising tensions in areas west of the province.
A meeting was held on Monday, 8 February, bringing together the committee and regime officials, who reached an agreement to prevent the displacement of the province’s residents to northern Syria, Enab Baladi correspondent reported.
Instead, the two parties to the agreement decided that persons the regime wants should leave the western area to other places within the province’s borders. The relocation of these persons was guaranteed by their clans’ dignitaries, the correspondent added.
Under the same agreement, the committee stated, forces of the 4th Division would search several of the farmlands south of Tafas city starting from Tuesday. The area’s residents will accompany the delegated personnel so as to prevent any violations against civilians or their properties.
The regime is also to be handed the anti-aircraft weapons used during clashes between the Zuabi and Kiwan clans, as well as government buildings and headquarters.
Tafas al-Habiba, local media news page on Facebook, also reported the agreement, saying that no military offensive would be carried out against the area and that the city’s southern farms will be searched.
Farm owners were asked to be present during the search operations, for their identity documnets would be checked.
The 4th Division has, on 6 February, removed reconciled personnel, former opposition fighters who signed a settlement agreement with the regime, from the checkpoints in the western countryside of Daraa. The Division sent reinforcements, of 200 militants, to the forces stationed in the Muzayrib Plant and al-Sa`qa Camp, reported Enab Baladi correspondent in Daraa.
Last week, similar 4th Division reinforcements arrived in the area, which settled in buildings of universities, the irrigation department, a cattle farm, and the bee administration.
On Sunday, 7 February, unidentified persons targeted a military post of the 4th Armoured Division with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). The post is set up in the town of Nahaj, the western countryside of Daraa province.
Unidentified persons targeted a military post inside the Nahj Nursery, injuring one of the Division’s militants. Following the attack, the military groups deployed to the al-Salem complex combed the area with medium weapons, Enab Baladi correspondent for Daraa reported, quoting reconciled members of the Division.
A motorcycle bomb exploded, on Sunday, near the State Security detachment in the city of Inkhil, northern countryside of Daraa. Two militants were wounded.
On 3 February, an explosive device exploded near the headquarters of the 4th Division in the town of Muzayrib, also wounding two militants.
This military build-up coincided with the regime’s threat to storm the city of Tafas, west of Daraa. The regime forces demanded that six wanted persons from the area be handed over, or otherwise be deported to northern Syria. However, this threat might be eliminated should Monday’s agreement terms be observed by both parties.
The military reinforcements, coming to the western countryside of Daraa, have blocked the road that connects the western region with Daraa, passing through the towns of Muzayrib and Al-Yadudah, since the start of the military campaign on January 23.
Daraa and Quneitra provinces have been controlled by the Syrian regime forces since July 2018. The two provinces were subjected to a forced settlement agreement with the regime forces.
Russia guaranteed the agreement, which provided that the armed opposition groups hand over heavy and medium weapons in exchange for the release of detainees, the legalization of dissidents’ status, and the return of the dismissed employees to their departments.