Local factions in the southern province of Sweida thwarted a large-scale attack targeting the villages of al-Dour, Lubin, and Jarin in the western countryside of the province after midnight on Thursday. Armed groups began targeting these villages with rocket-propelled grenades, followed by a ground offensive by the attacking groups toward residential areas.
Local sources confirmed to Zaman al-Wasl that the factions were able to repel the attack and consolidate defense lines in the aforementioned villages, preventing them from falling under the control of the militants.
In the same context, informed sources reported that the Syrian government confirmed, after communicating with them, that the groups that carried out the attack were not affiliated with the Ministry of Defense or any official security agency, describing them as "outlaw" groups.
This attack coincided with the entry of General Security forces into the Jaramana area in Eastern Ghouta, pursuant to an agreement reached with several Druze sheikhs. The agreement stipulated the surrender of heavy weapons in the area to the Syrian state, a move aimed at enhancing security and stability and re-establishing state authority.
On Thursday, a preliminary agreement was reached in Sweida. It includes five main provisions, most notably the activation of the General Security, with the province's residents only; the surrender of heavy weapons to the Syrian state; and the collection of medium and light weapons under the command of the Sheikhs of the Mind, who are not to be used except in self-defense.
The agreement also stipulates the formation of an executive office composed of Sweida residents, while the governor's role remains limited to that of a liaison officer with the capital, Damascus.
The agreement also opens the door for residents of the province who wish to join the General Security and the Syrian army.
The agreement was reached by a tripartite decision of the Sheikhs of the Mind, despite disagreements between local groups, particularly the group of Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri and some other parties.
In a related development on the ground, groups affiliated with Sheikh al-Hijri declared a "general mobilization" and deployed in public squares to prevent any Syrian state military convoys from entering the province.
In contrast, a local source said that a number of Druze sheikhs, including the sheikhs of Balous, Hanawi, and Jarbou, are coordinating with the General Security to secure the entry and deployment of military convoys in the governorate. This comes amid a state of division among Druze sheikhs, with some supporting and others opposing the move.
In a significant development, a military source downplayed the significance of the Israeli bombardment that targeted the vicinity of a government palace in Damascus at dawn on Friday, describing it as "mere fireworks that will yield no results," stressing that the situation on the ground is "under control."
The source confirmed in a statement to Zaman al-Wasl that the Syrian Arab Army has succeeded in imposing control over the Sahnaya area in the Damascus countryside and securing the vicinity of Jaramana, strengthening the state's presence on the outskirts of the capital and reducing the risk of any security breach.
The Israeli bombardment coincided with reports circulating on some platforms about the outbreak of armed clashes in the heart of the capital, but field data quickly disproved these accounts. A security source told Zaman al-Wasl that what happened on Khalid bin al-Walid Street was nothing more than gunfire from a red pickup truck targeting a police station. No injuries or direct damage were reported, the source described the incident as "nothing more than an attempt to intimidate."
According to the source, security forces are continuing to pursue the perpetrators of the incident, at a time when undeclared tensions are looming in the capital, which regime forces are dealing with with a state of alert and limited deployment.
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.