On October 31, local units previously affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) launched a large-scale military operation against the group in the southern Syrian city of Daraa Al-Balad. The units responsible for carrying out the operation in the Tariq Al-Sad and Al-Mukhayyam neighborhoods had chosen to remain in the governorate after signing reconciliation agreements with the Syrian regime under Russian auspices in July 2018.
On Oct. 31, local units previously affiliated with the FSA launched a large-scale military operation against the al-Hafo-Harfoush group in the southern Syrian city of Daraa al-Balad. The operation followed a suicide bombing targeting the house of Ghassan al-Akram Abazid, a former FSA leader, that left four dead and several others wounded, on Oct. 28, in Daraa al-Balad. The attack was only the latest in a string of similar operations in southern Syria conducted by the group over the past year targeting military factions affiliated with the opposition.
Clashes continued in Daraa city for a fourth day on Thursday between groups accused of belonging to the Islamic State and armed former opposition groups, alongside the military security-affiliated 8th Brigade led by Ahmed al-Awda.
By targeting top civilian and military leaders who were the cornerstones of local negotiating committees through a series of assassinations, Damascus has successfully marginalized Daraa’s bargaining power.