By Moon of Alabama
Source: The Ron Paul Institute
The Syrian government and its Russian ally plan to clean up the southwest region of Syria around the city of Daraa. The move should open the M5 highway, Syria’s lifeline, between Damascus and Jordan and secure the border with Jordan as well as the demarcation line with the Israel occupied Golan Heights.

The operation was supposed to start in a day or two, but the US has now threatened to intervene. As the southwest Daraa governorate is infested with a large Islamic State (ISIS) group as well as al-Qaeda and associated groups the US move must be interpreted as protection for these terrorists.

On July 7 2017 The US, Russia and Jordan agreed to set up a de-escalation zone in southwest Syria. The parameters were not publicized and the implementation lagged. Russia had offered to let its military police supervise the zone but the US rejected that. The opening of the important M5 highway to Jordan which was originally part of the plan did likewise not happen. The ceasefire in the region was broken several times. There was also infighting between ISIS and al-Qaeda.

In November 2017 the presidents of the United States and Russia met and agreed to a Memorandum of Principals which covered southwest Syria. The memorandum was not published.

The neo-conservatives at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) disliked the agreement. It headlined Southern Syria Deal Fails to Constrain Iran, al Qaeda. Israel had demanded that no groups associated with Iran should come near the zone, but no such rule was agreed upon. ISW also noted:

Al Qaeda has exploited the ‘de-escalation zone’ to develop a new durable safe haven along the Syrian-Jordanian border.

Neither al-Qaeda nor the Islamic State are covered by the de-escalation and ceasefire agreement. UN Security Council resolutions 2249 and 2254 demand that all UN members fight Al Qaeda, ISIS, and individuals and groups associate with them. It calls upon UN member states “to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Syria”.

At that time ISW published a map of southwest Syria which shows the strategic positions taken by ISIS (grey), al-Qaeda (brown) and aligned groups (light brown):

In December 2017 the US stopped payments to “rebels” in the south west. Some of the groups, including al-Qaeda, receive money, weapons and fire support from Israel.

In April 2018 ISW published a new version of its map of the area. Amusingly al-Qaeda had vanished from it:

Over the last days Syrian helicopters have dropped leaflets over “rebel” held towns in the western part of the rebel held areas. They demand that the rebels give up fighting and reconcile with the Syrian government.

The Iranian ambassador to Jordan Mojtaba Ferdowsi-pour publicly declared that Iran has no role in any military operation in south of Syria. He added:

After ending its mission in Syria, Iran will not remain in Syria and whenever Syrian government ask us, Iran will leave the country.

It is obvious that the Syrian government and its Russian allies have all rights to fight ISIS and al-Qaeda independent of any de-escalation agreement. The UNSC resolutions even demand that. But the US thinks different.

Last night the US State Department published this threat:

The United States is concerned by reports of an impending Assad regime operation in southwest Syria within the boundaries of the de-escalation zone negotiated between the United States, Jordan, and the Russian Federation last year and reaffirmed between Presidents Trump and Putin in Da Nang, Vietnam in November. The United States remains committed to maintaining the stability of the southwest de-escalation zone and to the ceasefire underpinning it. We also caution the Syrian regime against any actions that risk broadening the conflict or jeopardize the ceasefire. As a guarantor of this de-escalation area with Russia and Jordan, the United States will take firm and appropriate measures in response to Assad regime violations.
…

One wonders what “firm and appropriate measures” the US has planned for. Strong words? Cruise missile attacks? Nukes?

I have not seen any reaction yet from the Syrian or Russian side.

Source: SANA
The Syrian Army and armed forces units, backed by the army air-force, on Sunday continued operations against the Takfiri terrorist organizations in different areas across the country, inflicting heavy losses upon them in the arms and personnel.

Hama

Army units, in cooperation with the supporting forces, re-established full control over Maardes town in the northern countryside of Hama, a military source announced on Sunday.

The source pointed out that a number of terrorists were killed and their weapons and ammunition were destroyed.

The source added that the members of army’s engineering units are working on dismantling the explosive devices that were planted earlier by terrorists before they were killed or fled away towards the farms and orchards north of the town.

Aleppo

29 terrorists from the so-called “Jaish al-Fateh” were killed in an operation carried out by an army unit against their gatherings and positions to the northeast of Aleppo northern province.

The military source told SANA that an army unit carried out concentrated bombardments against gatherings and positions of the terrorist organizations on the axis of al-Majbal, Breej and Masaken Ibraheem Hananou to the northeast of Aleppo City.

The source added that 29 terrorists were killed in the operation and more than 37 others were injured including one of their field commanders, in addition to destroying an amount of arms and ammunition that was in their possession.

Daraa

An army unit targeted fortified positions of two terrorist groups northwest of the Customs’ old building and in al-Nazihin Camp in Daraa al-Balad area in Daraa city, leaving many of their members dead or injured.

Damascus Countryside

Army units killed a number of terrorists and destroy vehicles, some of which equipped with machine guns, as they fire artillery shells on their gatherings in Khan al-Sheeh farms, al-Husseiniyeh, al-Khazrajiyeh and Harfa-Beit Jinn intersection and on others’ vehicles’ movements in al-Tibeh, Zakiyeh and al-Waara in Damascus Countryside.

Quneitra

An army unit clashed with a terrorist group that was attempting to infiltrate and attack one of the military points in al-Naqar al-Gharb site in the area surrounding al-Amal Farms to the south of Mashati Hadar in Quneitra, according to SANA reporter.

The reporter said that the clash ended by eliminating all the members of the terrorist group and destroying their weapons and ammunition.

The reporter added that the army directed concentrated strikes on a terrorist group that was bulldozing agricultural lands and families’ properties to set up fortifications to the southeast of al-Tilal al-Humr to the east of Hadar village, killing the group’s members.

Source: SANA

Syria Provinces – Units of the army and armed forces continued targeting Takfiri terrorist organizations’ hideouts, positions and vehicles across the country, killing and wounding dozens of their members.

Damascus Countryside

The Army , in cooperation with Lebanese resistance, established full control over Karnet Sha’abit Sharaf and Wadi Khashea’a in al-Jarajir barrens in northern Qalmoun mountains in Damascus Countryside.

The new progress comes after eliminating the latest gatherings of Jabhit al-Nusra in the area.

Earlier, the army killed a number of terrorists and injured others and destroyed their dens with all the arms and ammunition, leaving all terrorists inside them dead to the west side of Ein al-Boustan village in the southwestern countryside of Damascus, a military source told SANA Monday.

The source added that the army carried out operations against dens and positions of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in Manshiyet Khan al-Sheeh, killing scores of them and destroying their arms and ammunition.

Meanwhile, an army unit killed a number of Takfiri terrorists and injured others in Maghr al -Mir village to the east of Beit Saber village where an operation was carried out by the army in al-Bashir farm in which a number of terrorists were killed and others were injured and their weapons and ammunition were destroyed.

The Army Air Force targeted gatherings of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist organizations in Be’er al-Manqoura and ksaraet Baher in the eastern countryside of Damascus, killing a number of ISIS members and injuring others, in addition to destroying an armored vehicle and an artillery launcher

Units of the army and armed forces also killed a number of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in Manshiyet Khan al-Sheeh, Bait Sabir, Mugher al-Mir and Ein al-Bustan in the Countryside of Damascus.

The army air force raided ISIS positions and concentrations in Bair al-Manqura and Kasarat Bahr in Dumair in Damascus Countryside- near Palmyra’s southwestern mountain ranges- killing a number of terrorists and destroying an armored vehicle and artillery post.

Daraa

An army unit carried out concentrated blows against positions of the terrorists of Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organizations in Tal Antar in the northwestern countryside of southern Daraa province, killing scores of them and destroying their arms and ammunition.

Units of the army carried out precise operations against terrorists’ positions in the towns of Nahta, al-Mlaiha al-Sharqyia, and al-Hrak city in the northeastern countryside of the province, killing scores of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists and injuring others.

A unit of the army, based on information on the movements of the Takfiri organizations on the road of al-Ghariyia al-Sharqyia al-Karak, carried out concentrated strikes against the terrorists, destroying two of their vehicles with all the arms and ammunition inside them, and leaving all terrorists onboard dead.

Many terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra and other Takfiri organizations were also killed and one of their vehicles was destroyed in a special operation carried out by an army unit against their dens to the west of al-Thurayia buildings in Ataman town, 4 km to the north of Daraa.

In Daraa al-Balad neighborhood, an army unit killed a number of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists and destroyed two of their vehicles, leaving all terrorists on board dead on the road of al- Sad- al-Arsad al-Jawiya and in the vicinity of Abdul-Aziz Aba Zaid Mosque.

Quneitra

In the eastern countryside of the neighboring Quneitra province, a unit of the army bombarded dens of the terrorists who are mostly from the so-called al-Furqan Brigades and Ahrar al- Sham Islamic Movement.

The bombardments left a number of terrorists dead and their arms and ammunition were destroyed on the northwestern foot of Mas’hara hill.

Homs

In the central province of Homs, units of the army and armed forces, supported by the air force, carried out concentrated operations on the terrorist organizations’ hideouts in the northern and eastern countrysides of Homs province.

The army’s air force destroyed a number of vehicles, killed tens of ISIS terrorists in al-Bayarat, al-Maqale’e to the west of Palmyra, and in al-Shindakhya al-Shimalyia in Homs eastern countryside.

Army air force also targeted terrorists’ gatherings and hideouts of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Jebab al- Tanahej, Sallam Gharbi, Rasm al-Sawaneh, al- Shindakhiyeh al- Janobiyehm 70km to the east of Homs.

The operations resulted in killing numbers of ISIS terrorists and destroying their vehicles, arms and ammunitions.

Meanwhile, an Army unit inflicted heavy losses upon members and weaponry of ISIS terrorists in an intensive operation that targeted their dens in the towns of al-Sultaniyeh and al-Msheirfeh al-Shamaliyeh, 68 km to east of Homs city.

Other army units killed terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra in kfr Laha, al-Sa’an, al-Za’faraneh, Deir Foul, the area around al-Ber hospital in al-Rastan in the northern countryside of Homs province.

Army units targeted the terrorists’ hotbeds in Wadi al-Kahf in the southern countryside of al-Qseir city, destroying the terrorists fortifications and dens in addition to killing numbers of terrorists and injuring others.

Hama

The army’s air force destroyed a gathering for terrorists in al-Latamneh in Hama countryside, killing a number of them.

Idleb

The army’s air force destroyed dens and gatherings of terrorists in addition to tens of vehicles in Urom al-Jouz, Kfar Zeiba, Kfeir, ayn al-Bardeh and al-Basheriya in Idleb countryside, killing a number of terrorists.

Earlier, the Army’s Air Force carried out a series of concentrated air strikes on hideouts of terrorist organizations in Idleb and its countryside, a military source said.

The Air Force directed strikes on terrorists’ hideouts in al-Marj and Balshoun villages and Areeha city 12 kilometers to the south of Idleb city, killing a number of terrorists and destroying vehicles equipped with machine guns.

In al-Luj, al- Basheeriya, Muarata, and Bzeet in Jesr al-Shoghour countryside, the Air Force destroyed terrorists’ vehicles and dens, while other air strikes targeted gatherings of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists and other Takfiri organizations in Um Jreen, al-Majas, al-Bwaiti, Talab, and al-teraa in Abu al-Duhour area in the eastern countryside of the province, inflicting heavy losses in personnel and equipment on terrorists there.

The air strikes also targeted hideouts of terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra, the “Islamic Front” and Jund al-Aqsa in al-Nabi Ayoub Mountain in al-Zaweya Mountain area, killing a number of terrorists and destroying vehicles equipped with machineguns.

The Air Force destroyed terrorists’ hideouts in Ain al-Hamra and Shaghoureet villages in al-Ghab plain between Idleb and Hama, in addition to carrying out air strikes against hideouts of leaders of Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organizations in al-Inshaat area in the surrounding of Idleb city, killing a number of terrorists and destroying their vehicles, arms and ammunition.

Aleppo

Army units carried out intensive operations against dens of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in al-Layramoun, Bani zaid, Salah al-Deen, al-Wadehi, Bab ah-Hadeed, Qadi Askar, Bustan al-Basha and al-Halwaniya neighborhoods in Aleppo city, killing a number of terrorists, injuring others and destroying arms, ammunition, and mortar launchers, a military source told SANA.

In the eastern countryside of Aleppo, an army unit killed a number of terrorists from ISIS during strikes on their gatherings in the surroundings of the Air Force Academy.

Meanwhile, other army units attacked gatherings and hideouts of terrorist organizations in Aazaz, Mareh and Anadan in the northern countryside of Aleppo, leaving a number of terrorists dead and destroying their arms and vehicles, while another unit directed strikes on terrorists hideouts in Qabatan al-Jabal, al-Atareb and Daret azza in Jabal Samaan area in the western countryside of the province, inflicting heavy losses on terrorists in personnel and equipment.

Army air force destroyed terrorists’ gatherings and vehicles in Mare’, Talalin, al-Mansoura, Kifr Houm and al-Mishirfeh in Aleppo.

Lattakia

Army air force destroyed terrorists’ concentrations and vehicles in Ta’ouma,
Bouz al-Kherba and Akko in Lattakia countryside.

Hasaka

The Syrian Arab Army’s Air Force carried out intensive airstrikes against ISIS gatherings and dens in the southern countryside of Hasaka city.

Dozens of terrorists were killed in the strikes that target their gatherings in Abyad area, Sawda, Abad, and Tal Baroad villages southwest of Hasaka city.

The Air Force also targeted ISIS dens in Sabah al-Kheir area and al-Milabia in the southern countryside of Haska, killing many terrorists, injuring many others, and destroying their vehicles along with all weapons and ammunition inside them.

Deir Ezzor

Army units destroyed a number of ISIS vehicles and killed a number of its members in al-Hweija, al-Sina’a and al-Jbeila neighborhood in Deir Ezzor.

an army unit destroyed a tunnel for ISIS terrorists in al-Jbeila in Deir Ezzor and clashes with a number of them, killing scores of them and destroying three vehicles equipped with heavy machineguns.

Sweida

An army unit confronted a terrorist group that tried to infiltrate from al-Smad village towards Thebeen village in the countryside of Sweida, killing a number of terrorists and injuring others.

Source: Al Manar
Hezbollah and the Syrian army controlled on Monday two main positions of Nusra Front in Jreijeer which were the last strongholds of the terrorist group in Qalamoun barrens, killing scores of militants.

Hezbollah also managed to link Flita barrens with those of Arsal by controlling the main crossing between them.

The Islamic Resistance fighters also advanced in Arsal barrens, controlling a number of posts of Nusra Front whose terrorists suffered major losses.

Source: SANA
Provinces, SANA – The army continued operations against terrorist organizations on Friday, making gains in several areas and targeting more of Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS’s positions and those of other terrorist organizations.

Idleb

The army broke terrorists’ siege of the National Hospital in Jisr al-Shughour city in Idleb after carrying out a successful tactical maneuver, according to a military source.

Hasaka

Army units, in cooperation with the popular defense groups, established full control over Tal Baroud village and al-Shaddadi-al-Houl intersection in the countryside of the northeastern Hasaka province, SANA reporter in the province said.

Daraa

Army units killed Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in Tal al-Mal in the countryside of the southern Daraa province, southern province.

In Daraa city, an army unit targeted several dens of terrorists of Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham in separate areas in Daraa al-Balad neighborhood.

The operations left many terrorists killed or wounded.

Other army units hit groups of terrorists in other areas in Daraa al-Balad, killing numbers of them.

A Jabhat al-Nusra position between Daraa al-Mahatteh and the Camp areas in Daraa city was directly hit by an army unit. Many terrorists were killed, and their weapons and ammunition were destroyed.

Quneitra

Army units killed a number of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists and destroyed their vehicles in Tal Mas’hara and the village of al-Samadaniyeh al-Gharbiyeh in the countryside of the southern Quneitra province.