Syrian government forces clash with opposition in Daraa

Last month, Syrian government forces and allied militias imposed a siege on the Daraa al-Balad area, the old town of the city of Daraa and home to 40,000 people in southern Syria, after rebels refused to hand over their light weapons. The government forces subsequently beefed up their presence on the outskirts of Daraa and forces of the 4th Division mobilized hundreds of members with heavy weapons.

Meanwhile, the Central Committee, a body consisting of notables and media activists and former commanders in the Free Syrian Army (FSA), proposed an offer to the Assad government and said that in the event the proposal is rejected, the committee will engage in war or some other form of confrontation or even depart the area.

On July 28, a meeting was held between the negotiating committee and representatives of the 8th Brigade of the 5th Corps affiliated with Russia, without any government officers attending.

The Horan Free League, an independent media institution in southern Syria, said the committee suggested an offer to the government, whereby only members of the 8th Brigade that hail from Daraa al-Balad would be deployed at three military points in Daraa al-Balad.