Opposition forces have taken control of Syria’s Daraa and Sweida cities, marking the fourth strategic loss for President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in a week. The Syrian army has withdrawn from much of the southern region as opposition fighters continue their lightning offensive.
Daraa, known as “the cradle of the revolution,” was a key battleground early in Syria’s war. Government repression of protests failed to quell the people’s anger, and the regime besieged the city in 2011, militarizing the revolution. Opposition forces now control over 90% of Daraa province.
In neighboring Sweida, local fighters took control of several checkpoints after the Syrian army withdrew, while government forces remain in control of Damascus, Homs, Latakia, and Tartus.
The opposition’s advance has been swift, with gains in Daraa, Sweida, Hama, and Aleppo. The government is trying to regain ground, but its efforts are being hindered by its main backers, Russia and Iran, who are bogged down in other conflicts.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Doha to seek a solution to the renewed fighting and prevent chaos on Syria’s borders. Diplomacy may focus on working out an exit option for the regime and ensuring an orderly transition.
The Syrian civil war has killed over 500,000 people and forced more than half of the population to flee their homes.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/7/opposition-forces-take-syrias-daraa-astana-track-meeting-to-be-held