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27 settlements in in the southern Syrian provinces of al-Quneitra, al-Suwayda and Daraa have returned to the government control over the past week, a spokesman for the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria said on July 3.
He added that “special attention” is paid to efforts to create conditions to accommodate refugees returning from territories still controlled by militants as well as from other Syrian regions and neighboring countries.
Units of the Russian Military Police have recently been spotted in Busra al-Sham and Musayrifa.
In late June, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the Tiger Forces and their allies launched a fully-fledged military operation to liberate southern Syria and to re-establish control of this part of the border with Jordan.
Despite major gains made by pro-government forces, a notable part of militant groups in the area is still refusing to accept any kind of suggested reconciliation agreement. The main reason behind this situation is an influence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and some foreign powers supporting militant groups in the area.
If militants continue refusing to surrender their weapons, they will face a next round of military pressure from the SAA and its allies.
Separately, the SAA repelled an attack by Jaish al-Izza in the area of Tal Bazam in northern Hama. This group is one of the key allies of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the so-called Idlib de-escalation zone.
An interesting fact is that the attack took place near a Turkish observation post at Morek. This post is intended to monitor the ceasefire in the area. However, the continued attacks by militants show gaps in the de-escalation agreement reached by Turkey, Iran and Russia in the so-called Astana format.
The problem of this agreement that Turkish forces and their proxies are not hurrying up to combat Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and linked groups in their zone of responsibility in western Idlib.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured over 11 settlements from ISIS near the Syrian-Iraqi border, east of the SDF-held town of Ash-Shaddaday. According to pro-Kurdish sources, the SDF, backed up by US-led coalition forces, is going to develop its advance along the border in order to clear the entire area on the eastern bank of the Euphrates from the terrorists. Nonetheless, it’s not clear how much time this will take.
Meanwhile, rumors are circulating on alleged negotiations between the Damascus government and the SDF, which is de-facto dominated by Kurdish armed groups. The Kurdish YPG and its political wing, the PYD, is attempting to improve their complicated relations with the Syrian government amid the Turkish-US rapprochement over the situation in northern Syria.
Ankara describes the YPG as a terrorist group. It has already carried out a successful anti-YPG operation in the Afrin area and is going to develop its efforts in this direction further.
Nasib Border Crossing Liberation Imminent.
“News from the South is leading to the liberation of Nassib border crossing at any moment now. The terrorists in the 3 villages of Tayybah, Saida and Umm Mayatheen that put up some fierce resistance were finally defeated after 2 days of battle, and started to surrender in mass, that places the SAA basically at the Nassib border crossing, the village of Nassib has yet to accept the reconciliation, with that the phase 1 is finished ahead of schedule.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.576906&lon=36.252823&z=12&m=b&gz=0;361740303;325374070;209426;1113632;0;306748;923538;0;899505;517939;708961;846198;719261;1028351;216293;1128086
Basically gloves are off, the fight is now in many areas around Daraa Province where the terrorists continue to resist.”
Clearly a deal has been made concerning Daraa. The Israelis backing off, Us maybe clearing out, the dissolution of the terrorists. Amazing quantities of material and weapons the SAA got possession off, courtesy of American taxpayers.
The question now is if the Kurds have finally “seen the light” ? If they have they will reconcile very fast with Damascus. If they do that, both Turkey and the US will have to leave.
Indeed there are rumors that in the last few days the Syrian government and the Kurdish authorities have agreed on a wide-ranging win-win framework for a Kurdish autonomous region inside the Syrian Arab Republic. Hopefully, we hear more soon.
90% of East Daraa Liberated. Latest map:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhVPb4zX0AARfjB.jpg
East Daraa Expected to Be Completely Liberated Within 48 Hours.
“A large chunk of Eastern Daraa border with Jordan is now safely at the SAA hands, few villages and many border posts were liberated.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.477908&lon=36.396332&z=11&m=b&gz=0;363225173;323674931;0;782610;727844;179770;1702880;0;2176666;921669;2142333;1222892;1922607;1321346;1387023;1269225
Another win today, after the liberation of Saida, was the full control of Al Naimah (eastern gate of Daraa city).
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.510341&lon=36.210938&z=11&m=b&gz=0;361364364;325624396;10299;543821;137329;442602;676345;0;604248;783807;260925;1020838;0;766461
The focus now for the Tiger Forces is to liberated 4 villages that control the Nassib border Crossing flanks and M5 road. These are al Tayyibah, Umm Mayatheen , Mitayiah and Nassib, early info indicates that the first 3 villages are almost liberated, few small details are missing for their totally liberation and be secured. Nassib village was used by the terrorists as point of treatment for the wounded, that has now moved to Jordan, which started to receive wounded terrorists once more.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.511499&lon=36.210938&z=11&m=b&gz=0;361625289;324729846;130462;1227245;0;689084;425720;608043;1441955;0;1654815;521205;933837;718026;968170;961099;137329;1192535
The last area resisting the SAA is a combination of 3 villages that have no option but to surrender to the SAA.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.511499&lon=36.210938&z=11&m=b&gz=0;363108444;324248911;1126098;1719750;645446;1389952;274658;1060033;0;301338;432586;0;1414489;1117922;1634216;1551973;1428222;1783381
In fact, as soon as Saturday we may see all eastern Daraa terrorists free, Nassib Border Crossing flying the Syrian flag once more, all the M5 liberated and the terrorists in the Daraa city being surrounded by the TFs, a “signature” of this group since its 1st offensive in 2013, the terrorists will be blocked inside an urban area, somehow neutralized from events in the west of Daraa and basically fighting for their lives.” (Canthama)
US Forces Pulling Out of Al Tanf? Latest Article by Magnier.
https://ejmagnier.com/2018/07/05/us-forces-leaving-al-tanfand-syria-russia-remains-in-the-levant/