Daraa Sees New Wave of Displacement After Sudden Bombardment on its Western Countryside

 Activists said that more than 25 rockets and shells fell on residential neighborhoods and the popular market in the city. (Photo: AFP)
Activists said that more than 25 rockets and shells fell on residential neighborhoods and the popular market in the city. (Photo: AFP)
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Daraa Sees New Wave of Displacement After Sudden Bombardment on its Western Countryside

 Activists said that more than 25 rockets and shells fell on residential neighborhoods and the popular market in the city. (Photo: AFP)
Activists said that more than 25 rockets and shells fell on residential neighborhoods and the popular market in the city. (Photo: AFP)

Twenty-two persons will be displaced from Southern Syria to the North under the supervision of the Fifth Division and the Russian military police, after the city of Tafas in the western countryside of Daraa was targeted early on Thursday with rockets and missiles by the forces of the Fourth Division, which are stationed in a building adjacent to the city and Tal al-Jumuh.

Buses arrived at the old customs in Daraa al-Balad on Thursday afternoon to transport wanted persons and families wishing to be displaced, with the insistence of Muhammad al-Masalma, nicknamed “Hafu” and Moaied Harfoush not to leave the area.

The two men had pledged before the city’s clans to leave the region and accept displacement, which paved the way for an agreement with the Russian side and the Security Committee. But they suddenly went back on their decision, which led to the resumption of military actions.

Activists said that more than 25 rockets and shells fell on residential neighborhoods and the popular market in the city in the early hours of the morning, causing three deaths and 10 injuries among civilians.

Shells also fell in the vicinity of a school in the city of Tafas, while students were attending summer courses. A state of panic and terror prevailed over the educational facility, which closed immediately.

Meanwhile, a number of Syrian regime forces were killed or wounded on Thursday morning in an attack on a military vehicle carrying food for the soldiers on the road between Sheikh Miskeen and Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa.

Syrian regime forces raided some houses in the city of Sheikh Miskeen and arrested around ten people on charges of committing acts against the Syrian state.

Activists expected that military actions would move to the areas of the western countryside of Daraa, especially Tafas, Muzayrib and Yaduda, especially with the arrival of military reinforcements over the past few days.



EU Ministers Reject Move to Freeze Dialogue with Israel over Gaza War

17 November 2024, Palestinian Territories, Bureij: A general view of the destruction caused by Israeli strikes in Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. (Omar Ashtawy Apaimages/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
17 November 2024, Palestinian Territories, Bureij: A general view of the destruction caused by Israeli strikes in Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. (Omar Ashtawy Apaimages/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
TT

EU Ministers Reject Move to Freeze Dialogue with Israel over Gaza War

17 November 2024, Palestinian Territories, Bureij: A general view of the destruction caused by Israeli strikes in Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. (Omar Ashtawy Apaimages/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
17 November 2024, Palestinian Territories, Bureij: A general view of the destruction caused by Israeli strikes in Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. (Omar Ashtawy Apaimages/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)

European Union foreign ministers on Monday rebuffed a proposal to suspend political dialogue with Israel put forward by the bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, who cited concerns about possible human rights violations in the war in Gaza.

Borrell had written to the ministers ahead of Monday's meeting in Brussels, citing "serious concerns about possible breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza".

But Borrell and other officials said the ministers did not approve the move.

"Most of the member states considered that it was much better to continue having (a) diplomatic and political relationship with Israel," Borrell told a press conference after the meeting.

"But at least I put on the table all the information produced by United Nations organisations and every international organisation working in Gaza and the West Bank and in Lebanon in order to judge the way the war is being waged."

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters: "We know that there are tragic events in Gaza, huge civilian casualties, but we do not forget who started the current cycle of violence."

The political dialogue is enshrined in a broader agreement on relations between the EU and Israel, including extensive trade ties, that entered into force in June 2000.

A suspension would have needed approval from all 27 EU countries.

In a blog post last week, Borrell accused Israel of repeatedly not heeding pleas from the EU to respect international law in Gaza.

Israel has rejected accusations that it is violating international law in the enclave. It says its forces distinguish between civilians and combatants and the Israeli military acts with proportionality to any threat.

The EU has struggled to find a strong united position on the Gaza war, which was triggered by attacks by Hamas Palestinian fighters on Israel on Oct. 7 last year.

The bloc has called on Hamas to release all Israeli hostages and on both sides to respect international law. Gaza health authorities say Israel's campaign has killed nearly 44,000 people.