Daraa Negotiations Stumble at Demands over Surrendering Weapons, Forced Displacement

Daraa al-Balad is deserted after clashes between the regime and opposition. (AFP)
Daraa al-Balad is deserted after clashes between the regime and opposition. (AFP)
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Daraa Negotiations Stumble at Demands over Surrendering Weapons, Forced Displacement

Daraa al-Balad is deserted after clashes between the regime and opposition. (AFP)
Daraa al-Balad is deserted after clashes between the regime and opposition. (AFP)

Local negotiations committees in the southern Daraa governorate are rejecting demands listed in a Russian roadmap for ending the escalation of violence in the region.

The Syrian Army’s 4th Armored Division has been insisting on opposition fighters in the governorate handing over all weapons and those opposing a settlement.

It is bent on raiding homes in Daraa and setting up military checkpoints across the provincial capital, also named Daraa.

Negotiations are underway with no breakthrough in sight, local sources at the Daraa central negotiations committee told Asharq Al-Awsat.

According to sources, negotiations were set back by the regime security committee’s demands for Daraa residents to surrender their light arms, a matter rejected by the opposition’s central negotiations committee, which maintains the need for returning to the 2018 settlement.

“Locals in Daraa and other besieged areas refuse to slip into violence and support a Syrian settlement, but the regime continues to escalate its military offensives in the governorate,” the Daraa central committee reaffirmed.

Moreover, the committee explained that the regime has failed to exhibit the political will needed to reach a solution for Daraa. Damascus has rejected all proposals for halting forced displacements and military operations in the area.

The opposition committee has moved on to demand that Russia, a key backer of the regime, take over responsibility for guaranteeing that warring parties in settlement zones abide by the 2018 deal.

Even though Russian delegates and officers had assured the opposition in their meetings with negotiations committees that military escalation would come to an end, regime tanks and rockets continue to pound Daraa neighborhoods that are effectively under siege.

Activists in Daraa reported that parallel to negotiations hitting several obstacles, the 4th Armored Division shelled neighborhoods in the provincial capital on Tuesday evening.



Syrian Defense Ministry Announces Completion of Military Operations Against Assad Loyalists

Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
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Syrian Defense Ministry Announces Completion of Military Operations Against Assad Loyalists

Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)

A Syrian military operation against loyalists of ousted former President Bashar al-Assad has been completed, the defense ministry said on Monday. 

Hassan Abdul Ghany, the defense ministry spokesperson, said in a statement on X that public institutions were now able to resume their work and provide essential services. 

"We are paving the way for life to return to normal and for the consolidation of security and stability," he said. 

He added that plans were in place to continue combating the remnants of the former government and eliminate any future threats. 

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed on Sunday to hunt down the perpetrators of the violent clashes and said he would hold to account anyone who overstepped the new rulers' authority. 

Al-Sharaa's office also said it was forming an independent committee to investigate the clashes and killings carried out by both sides. 

Abdul Ghany added that the security forces would cooperate with the investigation committee, offering full access to uncover the circumstances of the events, verify the facts and ensure justice for the wronged. 

"We were able to absorb the attacks from the remnants of the former regime and its officers. We shattered their element of surprise and managed to push them away from vital centers, securing most of the main roads," he said. 

Syrian security sources said over the weekend more than 300 of their members had been killed in clashes with former army personnel owing allegiance to Assad in coordinated attacks and ambushes on their forces that began on Thursday.  

Syria's state news agency SANA reported on Sunday that a mass grave had been discovered near Qardaha, Assad's hometown, containing the bodies of recently killed security forces.  

The attacks spiraled into revenge killings when thousands of armed supporters of Syria's new leaders from across the country descended to the coastal areas to support beleaguered forces of the new administration.