Syria: Daraa Residents Relieved by 5fth Legion’s Growing Role

Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems standing at an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase, Syria, November 26, 2015. Russia Defense Ministry/AFP
Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems standing at an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase, Syria, November 26, 2015. Russia Defense Ministry/AFP
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Syria: Daraa Residents Relieved by 5fth Legion’s Growing Role

Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems standing at an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase, Syria, November 26, 2015. Russia Defense Ministry/AFP
Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems standing at an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase, Syria, November 26, 2015. Russia Defense Ministry/AFP

A rise in the role of the Fifth Legion, supported by the Russian Hmeimim base, has been applauded by the people of Daraa in southern Syria, and many young people have shown great interest in joining its ranks.

On Tuesday, a videotape showed hundreds of elements joining the forces of the Legion in the citadel square in the city of Busra al-Sham, in the presence of many of Houran dignitaries, military leaders, officers and forces of the Russian Military Police.

People raised slogans that read, “Syria belongs to its people and not to anyone’s farm.” A military parade, formed of two combat groups, chanted against the Syrian regime and the Iranian presence in the country.

According to local sources, hundreds of elements have rushed to join the Fifth Legion since its announcement of the recruitment process.

The sources added that new rounds of recruitment will see around 15,000 more elements joining the legion’s ranks.

This came after an agreement between the leadership of the Fifth Legion in Daraa with the central committees, local figures and the leaders of the factions operating in coordination with Russia, with the aim to protect their areas within the Russian-backed Legion.

The invitation addressed to the residents of Daraa emphasized the need “to build the future of Syria, fulfill our promises to protect our youth and unify our efforts to serve our people in the southern region and Syria in general through one entity and one army.”



Lebanese Politician Accuses Israel of Increasing Bombardment to Wring Concessions

This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, shows an Israeli flag (L) on a destroyed building, and a Lebanese flag (R) painted on a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on November 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, shows an Israeli flag (L) on a destroyed building, and a Lebanese flag (R) painted on a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on November 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
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Lebanese Politician Accuses Israel of Increasing Bombardment to Wring Concessions

This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, shows an Israeli flag (L) on a destroyed building, and a Lebanese flag (R) painted on a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on November 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, shows an Israeli flag (L) on a destroyed building, and a Lebanese flag (R) painted on a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on November 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)

Lebanon’s deputy parliament speaker has accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment of Lebanon in order to pressure the government to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah.

Elias Bou Saab, an ally of the Iran-backed group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.”

“We are optimistic, and there is hope, but nothing is guaranteed with a person like (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu),” Bou Saab told reporters.

Israel has carried out heavy strikes in central Beirut in recent days, while Hezbollah has increased its rocket fire into Israel.

The United States is trying to broker an agreement in which Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and Lebanese troops would patrol the region, along with a UN peacekeeping force.

Israel has demanded freedom of action to strike Hezbollah if it violates the ceasefire, but Bou Saab said that was not part of the emerging agreement.

He also said Israel had accepted that France be part of the committee overseeing the ceasefire after Lebanese officials insisted. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli side.

Israel has objected to France being on the committee in the wake of the International Criminal Court’s decision last week to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military commander.

France said it supports the court. It said the question of whether it would arrest Netanyahu if he set foot on French soil was a “complex legal issue” that would have to be worked out.