Tensions have been high in Syria's southern Daraa region, known as the "cradle of the revolution", as the regime prepared to storm the region in wake of an uptick in attacks that have targeted its forces in recent months.
Local committees and Russia are racing against time to prevent the regime, which has brought in military reinforcements in the shape of its Fourth Brigade, from attacking the area.
Attacks are common in Daraa province, which was retaken by regime forces from the opposition in 2018, usually targeting loyalists and civilians working for the state. Residents of Daraa say disaffection has been growing as the regime's secret police once more tighten their control and a campaign of arrests has sowed widespread fear.
People took to the streets of various towns Thursday to protest against a potential offensive. Residents of Daraa, Tafas, Tal Shehab and others held rallies to protest against Damascus' escalating rhetoric against them. They also called for the withdrawal of Iranian militias from southern Syria.
Protests on Friday sought to exert pressure on Russia to dissuade the regime from going through with its offensive in line with settlement agreements on southern Syria reached between it and Damascus.
A member of the local central committee told Asharq Al-Awsat that the negotiations panel representing Daraa city and its western and eastern countrysides met on Wednesday to tackle the regime buildup. They stressed their support for all committees and factions that were part of the settlement agreement. A Russian delegation invited to the meeting failed to show up and no reason was given for its absence.
Earlier this month, unknown gunmen killed nine Syrian policemen in Daraa's village of Muzayreeb near the border with Jordan.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that a group of unknown gunmen kidnapped the policemen before shooting them dead.
The regime blamed the attack on "terrorists", a label it gives to opposition and extremist groups.
