EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Southern Front rebels prep for major offensive in Daraa

DARAA, Syria – The southern province of Darra has seen a string of major opposition victories in recent weeks, with rebel forces now growing bolder and vowing to root out government troops from the remainder of the province.

MEE contributor Abo Bakr al-Hajj Ali has negotiated exclusive access to the FSA-linked group and its fighters ahead of their expected dual pronged offensive due to be launched very soon. Two main battles now lie ahead for the Southern Front, an umbrella group of about 50 anti-government militias, seen to be amongst the more moderate opposition forces in Syria’s ever polarizing bloody civil war.  

The first will see the rebels descend on central Daraa city itself where they hope to root out pockets of government troops that until now have managed to hold out against the Southern Front which has all but surrounded the soldiers and prevented them from re-supplying.

The Southern Front’s spokesperson, Issam al-Reis, announced on Tuesday that the group was getting ready to take full control of Daraa.

“The rebels are preparing to liberate the areas of Daraa province that remain under regime control, including the city,” Reis told Italian news agency ADN Kronos.

The second offensive is expected to be launched some 50 kilometres to the east where the Southern Front hopes to capture the Sweida airbase.

“The roads into Deraa are very difficult and dangerous,” al-Hajj Ali told MEE by phone. “However, it is still possible to get into the city using roads that are not known to Assad’s forces: most of the roads leading into the city are blocked off, or are subject to sniper fire and bombings.”

“Even in the centre of the city there are snipers stationed on many of the streets. People are dying in the city all the time because of sniper fire and bombings by Assad forces, which concentrate on the centre of the city. Because of this the rebels have taken to closing off the roads using sandbags.”

“The fighters sleep on the front lines, and they work in 12-hour shifts,” he added.

The Southern Front tried to wrestle the base from forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last week, but after initial successes they were pushed back. However, the Southern Front still says it is flush with weapons seized from government troops at the so-called 52nd Brigade base, outside of Daraa.

“We are embarking on a battle to liberate the city of Darra. It’s either victory or martyrdom,” a southern Front fighter told MEE. 

Additional reporting by Simona Sikimic, Mary Atkinson and Alex MacDonald