Opposition and anti-regime groups in south Syria have joined the growing popular swell against the regime, which is rapidly losing territory across the country. Regime forces have fled and surrendered towns across the south, including the border crossing with Jordan at Nassib, which is now under opposition control. Moreover, large numbers of regime troops from the south are reported to be defecting.
Regime forces and Iranian-backed groups have withdrawn from the western banks of the Euphrates River in Deir Ezzor province, with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) moving in to take control of these areas.
Operation Deterring Aggression forces have continued to push south from Hama, taking villages in the northern Homs countryside. Today, opposition forces reached the outskirts of Homs city despite heavy Russian and regime bombardment.
Daraa & Quneitra Developments
An operations room to command south Syria’s anti-regime mobilization, “Breaking of the Shackles” was announced today under the leadership of Ahmed Al-Awdeh, who previously commanded one of the largest opposition groups in the south (Shabab al-Sunna). The operations room is comprised of opposition groups who settled their status with the regime during its 2018 takeover of south Syria. Regime forces withdrew from the Syria-Jordan border crossing at Nassib, with Awdeh’s group taking control of the border crossing. Jordan has closed the border in light of the escalation in south Syria.
The southern operations room is demanding the withdrawal of regime forces from across Daraa and Quneitra provinces. Some locations have been handed over without clashes, while regime forces have resisted in other locations. There are also reports of large numbers of regime defections in south Syria. Opposition forces have taken over much of eastern and western Daraa province, including Daraa city, Tafas, Musayfrah and Khirbet al Ghazaleh.
In response to the south’s resurgent opposition activity, the regime targeted several locations in eastern Daraa with shelling and airstrikes.
Suwayda Developments
Beginning on 6th December, anti-regime armed groups in Suwayda, now working under one affiliation and operations room, began taking over regime security points, including police stations in Suwayda city and across villages in the province. Nearly all regime checkpoints and security detachments in Suwyada city were evacuated and transferred to the control of local armed groups. The provincial governor’s office and house was also taken over, after reports that the governor had fled Suwayda. After brief clashes, anti-regime groups also took Ba’ath Party headquarters in Suwayda.
North-West Syria Developments
Operation Deterring Aggression forces have continued their push south from Hama into the northern Homs countryside, capturing towns along the strategic M5 highway as regime forces are withdrawing. In northern Homs, the villages of Ter Maela, al-Ghantu, Talbiseh, ar-Rastan, Al-Zaafarnah and Deir Foul have been captured by the opposition; many of these towns in northern Homs were previously opposition strongholds and have celebrated their arrival. At the time of writing, opposition forces are now on the outskirts of Homs city.
The regime withdrew large numbers of its forces from inside Homs city towards Damascus and the coast, while Russian and regime airstrikes are hitting rural northern Homs. This includes heavy bombardment on the town of al-Rastan, which was an opposition stronghold until 2018. Locations in rural Hama and the city are also being targeted.
For the moment, clashes between Syrian National Army (SNA) groups under the Fajr al-Hurriyah operations room and the SDF at Deir Hafir in the eastern Aleppo countryside have de-escalated.
Deir Ezzor Developments
Regime forces have withdrawn from the western banks of the Euphrates in Deir Ezzor province, between the Bukamal border crossing with Iraq until the city of Deir Ezzor. The SDF is moving in to control these areas.
