March 2020 Daraa clashes

March 2020 Daraa clashes
Part of the Daraa insurgency of the Syrian Civil War

Map showing the Daraa insurgency attacks
Date1–3 March 2020
(2 days)
Location
Western and eastern part of Daraa Governorate, Syria
Result

Status quo preserved

  • Rebels capture several checkpoints and buildings in Muzayrib, Tafas, and several other towns in the province.
  • Government control over Al-Sanamayn restored on 3 March after rebels evacuate from the town.[3]
Belligerents

Syrian Arab Republic

Reconciled Free Syrian Army fighters

  • Thuwar al-Sanamayn[1][2]
  • Various fighters elsewhere in the province
Syrian Opposition Loyalists
Commanders and leaders

Maj. Gen. Hossam Louka
(Head of Security Committee in Daraa)[4]
Brig. Gen. Louay al-Ali
(Head of Military Intelligence Directorate in Daraa)[4]

Thaer Al-Abbas
(leader of Popular Committees in Sanamayn)
Imad Jamal al-Labad[5][6]		 Walid al-Zahraa (leader of Thuwar Sanamayn) †[1]
Units involved

Syrian Arab Armed Forces

Various anti-government fighters
Strength
1,000+ (Sanamayn)[8]
unknown (rest of province)		 125 (Sanamayn)[9]
unknown (rest of province)
Casualties and losses
4 killed[10] 10 killed,[11][12] 4 wounded
7 civilians killed,[13] 15 wounded[8]

The March 2020 Daraa clashes was an armed conflict between rebel fighters aligned with the Free Syrian Army and Syrian government forces in the Daraa Governorate. Clashes began after the start of a government security operation against FSA insurgent cells in Al-Sanamayn and other areas in the Daraa governorate that have been active since 2018 after the defeat of rebel forces in the province. This crackdown led to actions of retaliation by rebels across the province that lead to levels of fighting unseen on such a scale since the government offensive in 2018. The fighters involved in the attack are believed to be former rebel fighters that surrendered to the government in 2018, as well as former rebels that defected to the government, and had been working against the government from within.[14][15]

  1. ^ a b "Daraa: Concern over Repeating "al-Sanamayn Scenario" in Other Areas despite the "Settlement Agreement"". April 22, 2020.
  2. ^ "Unrest in south-west Syria erupts into urban warfare". The National. March 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "Former fighters arrive in N Syria after rejecting reconciliation with Syrian regime in Daraa • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". March 3, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "New strategy to empty Daraa of opposition fighters". Enab Baladi. March 21, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "The Syrian affair A new settlement agreement in Sanamayn, north of Daraa, and the displacement scenario to Idlib returns again". Step News. March 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "New attacks in Daraa claim the lives of members and a leader of the Assad militia". Call Syria. May 19, 2020.
  7. ^ al-Nofal, Walid (2 March 2020). "Clashes in Daraa evoke memories of the start of the Syrian revolution". Syria Direct. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b ""درعا" حراك ثوري متجدد آخر محطاته الصنمين.. تفاصيل حملة نظام الأسد عليها". تجمع أحرار حوران. March 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "اتفاق تسوية جديد بالصنمين شمالي درعا.. وسيناريو التهجير لإدلب يعود من جديد". March 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "Daraa: several unidentified bodies found and unknown gunmen assassinate regime soldier • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". March 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "Daraa's Al-Sanamin: security alert and demonstrations take place in different cities and towns of Daraa, and several killed or wounded during clashes • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". March 1, 2020.
  12. ^ ""Reconcile with regime or leave to N Syria": Russia mediates a deal between Syrian regime and former fighters in Daraa • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". March 2, 2020.
  13. ^ "Tensions escalate in Deraa, 'cradle of the Syrian revolution'". www.aljazeera.com. March 5, 2020.
  14. ^ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (March 1, 2020). "Unrest in Deraa: Interview". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi.
  15. ^ "Daraa's Al-Sanamin: security alert and demonstrations take place in different cities and towns of Daraa, and several killed or wounded during clashes • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". March 1, 2020.