Syrian Forces Storm Daraa al-Balad After Failed Negotiations

 

Most rebels refuse deal to turn in their arms

by Jason Ditz 

Posted onJuly 28, 2021CategoriesNewsTagsSyria

Tuesday’s report of a deal to end the siege in Syria’s Daraa al-Balad appear to have been premature, with the deal falling apart Wednesday and the Syrian military storming the city.

The deal that was meant to be in place saw the Syrian forces ending the siege in return for the Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels handing over all light arms. Pro-government militias would also be disarmed in the area.

All that might’ve worked, but the FSA turned in 60 pieces of damaged weaponry instead of thousands of guns. Locals are openly saying they didn’t believe the military wanted to stop the fight, so they refused to disarm.

Locals are now accusing the government of violating the deal by adding seven checkpoints, when the deal said they could only have three. The government would obviously say the rebels broke the deal first by refusing to disarm, and the checkpoints are part of a military action.

https://news.antiwar.com/2021/07/28/syrian-forces-storm-daraa-al-balad-after-failed-negotiations/