It was a tad too quick, even by the standards of the ferocious Colonel Sohail Hassan-led Tiger Forces. I mean Tiger Forces have had their fair share of successes in the Syrian War, with this crack troops fighting and winning some of the toughest of battles in DeirazZor, Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Rif Damascus. However, Daraa surprised everyone.
When the operations in Daraa Governorate (Province) started a month and a half ago, rebels were sounding as bombastic as they could. One of the commanders went on to write something to the effect that while Moscow can fall, Daraa would not.
However, when the operation started, the progress was swift. Like in the previous few operations, it was a mix of carrot and stick policy that the Syrian Government and its Russian Allies applied here too. While scaring the rebels with a possible military assault, they were asked to surrender and accept the generous reconciliation process. While a few towns, villages and hamlets resisted other fell in line quite quickly. This led to the immediate collapse of the Lajat Region in South East Syria.
Those inside the city of Daraa, which doubles up as the capital of Daraa Governorate as well, were resisting still. After all, the city was the cradle of the resurrection in Syria. It was here, way back in 2011, when armed protestors emerging from the Muslim Brotherhood-controlled mosques burnt down government buildings and killed employees, leading to the start of the resurrection. There was a symbolism attached to this city s all the other cities where the resurrection initially started, such as Homs and Hama, were back in the hands of the Government. Daraa was the last bastion standing, so to speak. Understandably then, there was resistance from a section of rebels inside the city in accepting the reconciliation deal. Some of the foreign backers were egging them as well to not accept the deal. While Jordan and Qatar had abandoned them, Saudis were still giving them hope where there was none to be.
As the rebels dithered, Colonel Hassan planned something else. A tactical attack was made South East of the city, and the troops then cut its access to the border, making a semi-circle from the east of the city to the west, thereby seizing it. There was a little option left with the rebels but to surrender. And surrender they did.
This week, Daraa, the cradle of the resurrection, went back into government’s hand.
“The reconciliation deal for Daraa city is the latest in a string of such agreements that have seen the Russia-backed regime retake large parts of the country since 2015. They usually follow blistering military campaigns and sometimes stifling sieges that effectively force the rebels into surrendering. Previous such deals have seen thousands of rebels bused up to areas still under opposition control in the north of the country. The regime retaking full control of Daraa city will be a hugely symbolic blow to the opposition,” says Mohammad Abazeed, noted Middle East analyst based in Beirut.
Next on target is the liberation of South West Syria, as well as a fairly large part of the territory under Islamic State’s control in the province of Quinetra. These Daesh terrorists are at the border with Israel along with al Qaeda affiliated terrorists, whom Israel has supplied and sustained continuously. Sources maintain that Hezbollah and fighters from IRGC are now planning an operation to liberate this enclave, which Israel will try its best to oppose. However, the decision has been made to liberate the entirety of Syria, and there is only as much Israel can do about it.
Says Elijah J Magnier, celebrated expert of Middle East Affairs, “The next battle will be decisive in ending all pockets outside the authority of the Damascus government. Despite this fact Israel is still trying to intervene in the Syrian south, resisting any acceptance of the status quo: the years of war are over on its borders, and Syria is regaining the control of its territory. Actually, it is also the Israeli officials who are breathing their last in the Syrian war, which is nearing its end. What will remain to be liberated is the US &Turkish occupied North of Syria.”
While this is still on;an important summit between American President Donald Trump and President Putin of Russia is about to take place in Helsinki. Sources confirm that apart from other bilateral and global issues, Syria will figure majorly in the talks. Some kind of a deal is about to be struck, and sources say that it will be a win-win for Syria. Watch this space for more.
Daraa Has Ben Recaptured!
The cradle of foreign-backed rebellion in Syria, the city of Daraa, has been recaptured by the Syrian Arab Army, and the War is as good as over, says Saurabh Kumar Shahi.
